culpable

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

Synonyms

• 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

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

Also in the Prem, Chris Richards was arguably culpable on Liverpool’s late equalizer, but was then spared by Eddie Nketiah’s dramatic 97th-minute winner. —Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025

Chicago's lawsuit says Glock has sold its firearms, despite knowing they can be easily converted, and Glock and stores like Eagles Sports Range are culpable for the spread of modified handguns. —David Clarey, jsonline.com, 24 Sep. 2025

Even well into the ’80s and ’90s, mothers were made to feel culpable in some way for their children being diagnosed. —Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 23 Sep. 2025

Fox Sports and the NFL are equally culpable in creating a situation that has an easy solution that neither party has any interest in pursuing. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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