culpable

1 of 2

adjective

cul·​pa·​ble ˈkəl-pə-bəl 

1

: meriting condemnation or blame especially as wrong or harmful

culpable negligence

The defendant is culpable for her actions.

2

archaic : guilty, criminal

culpableness

ˈkəl-pə-bəl-nəs 

noun

culpably

ˈkəl-pə-blē 

adverb

culpableness

2 of 2

noun

cul·​pa·​ble·​ness ˈkəl-pə-bəl-nəs 

plural -es

: the quality or state of being culpable : culpability

Synonyms of culpable

Adjective

• guilty
• blameworthy

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

Adjective

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

Adjective

Yes, every life includes some unique and untold combination of experiences for which other people are morally culpable. —Thomas Lake, AJC.com, 4 June 2026

The Delhi Police registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against unknown persons in connection with the fire and an investigation was underway. —Arshad R. Zargar, CBS News, 3 June 2026

Atmos Energy and the other defendants are culpable in Collins’ wrongful death and should pay upwards of $1 million in damages to her family, the lawsuit states. —Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026

Bartscher granted a downward departure, finding that Ryan’s conduct was less serious than typical culpable negligent cases and citing her remorse, court records show. —Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 26 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English coupable, from Anglo-French cupable, culpable, from Latin culpabilis, from culpare to blame, from culpa guilt

Noun

Middle English coupablenesse, from coupable + -nesse -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing culpable

• culpable negligence

Kids Definition

culpable

adjective

cul·​pa·​ble ˈkəl-pə-bəl 

: deserving blame

culpability

ˌkəl-pə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

culpableness

ˈkəl-pə-bəl-nəs 

noun

culpably

ˈkəl-pə-blē 

adverb

Legal Definition

culpable

adjective

cul·​pa·​ble ˈkəl-pə-bəl 

: deserving condemnation or blame as wrong or harmful

culpability

ˌkəl-pə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

culpableness noun

culpably adverb