culpable

adjective

cul·pa·ble | \ˈkəl-pə-bəl

Definition of culpable

2 : meriting condemnation or blame especially as wrong or harmful culpable negligence The defendant is culpable for her actions.

Other Words from culpable Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about culpable

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Other Words from culpable

culpability \ ˌkəl-pə-ˈbi-lə-tē

\ noun

culpableness \ ˈkəl-pə-bəl-nəs

\ noun

culpably \ ˈkəl-pə-blē

\ adverb

Choose the Right Synonym for culpable

blameworthy, blamable, guilty, culpable mean deserving reproach or punishment. blameworthy and blamable apply to any degree of reprehensibility. conduct adjudged blameworthy an accident for which no one is blamable guilty implies responsibility for or consciousness of crime, sin, or, at the least, grave error or misdoing. guilty of a breach of etiquette culpable is weaker than guilty and is likely to connote malfeasance or errors of ignorance, omission, or negligence. culpable neglect

Examples of culpable in a Sentence

They held her culpable for the accident. He's more culpable than the others because he's old enough to know better.

Recent Examples on the Web

But after the hearing, which including searing testimony by more than 150 women, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott asked the Texas Rangers to see if anyone else was culpable for Nassar’s actions at the ranch. — Rachel Axon, USA TODAY, "USA Gymnastics a 'total failure,' according to investigation of famed Karolyi ranch," 29 June 2018 Initially, there was some speculation whether Mr. Ekkapol, the 25-year-old coach who took the boys into Tham Luang Cave, might be criminally culpable for overseeing a trip gone wrong. — Hannah Beech, New York Times, "Stateless and Poor, Some Boys in Thai Cave Had Already Beaten Long Odds," 10 July 2018 The 24-year-old, after a solid first half, was culpable for two costly second 45 blunders as Real Madrid secured their 13th European Cup/Champions League crown - and third in succession - with a 3-1 win in Kiev on Saturday evening. — SI.com, "Georginio Wijnaldum Reveals Why He Did Not Console Loris Karius Following UCL Final Blunders," 27 May 2018 Eventually, Francis did give up and got inside the vehicle and the two continued on their journey, but Isidore was soon arrested and hauled off to jail on charges of culpable negligence. — Breanna Edwards, The Root, "Florida Man Captured on Video Clinging to Hood of Speeding Car Speaks Out," 28 June 2018 Millar found her solution in having plot unfold through the points of view of several characters, any of whom might conceivably be culpable of, or vulnerable to, crimes. — Tom Nolan, WSJ, "‘Collected Millar’ Review: She Kept Us in Suspense," 13 Apr. 2018 Police charged 25-year-old Jeanee Dunn of Oxford and 41-year-old Bridget Austin of Abbeville with manslaughter by culpable negligence, more than a year after Durley Bratton died in April 2017. — Jeff Amy, The Seattle Times, "2 ex-workers charged in World War II veteran’s 2017 death," 10 July 2018 The study’s authors hypothesize that the adultification of black girls leads teachers, school administrators and police to view these vulnerable students as more culpable for their actions and, on that basis, punish them more harshly. — Lauren Lumpkin, baltimoresun.com, "Baltimore schools punish black girls more frequently, NAACP study finds," 28 June 2018 His name is Don Blankenship, a coal baron who served a year in prison after being found culpable for a mine explosion that killed 29 people in 2010. — CBS News, "What to know about Tuesday's West Virginia GOP primary," 8 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'culpable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.