guilt

noun

\ ˈgilt

Definition of guilt

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the fact of having committed a breach of conduct especially violating law and involving a penalty A jury will determine the defendant's guilt or innocence. broadly : guilty conduct

2a : the state of one who has committed an offense especially consciously His guilt was written in his face.

b : feelings of deserving blame especially for imagined offenses or from a sense of inadequacy : self-reproach

3 : a feeling of deserving blame for offenses Wracked by guilt, he confessed his affairs.

guilt

verb

guilted; guilting; guilts

Definition of guilt (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to cause (someone) to feel guilty Don't listen to Mommy. She's trying to guilt you.— Gary Shteyngart : to persuade (someone) to do something by causing feelings of guilt … guilting her to eat her own green beans because "there are starving children in Africa."— Katie Boerema —often followed by into A far stronger compulsion is created when people think they're being watched, as a mildly impressive 86 percent of people were guilted into washing their hands in one study.— Steve Lipsher

Other Words from guilt Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about guilt

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Examples of guilt in a Sentence

Noun

The jury determines the defendant's guilt or innocence. His guilt in the matter was indisputable. It was clear that the guilt lay with him. a strong sense of guilt She feels guilt over something that happened before she was born! our secret guilts and insecurities

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The products, despite being worth thousands of dollars, have not managed to neutralize my bodily functions or my laziness about cleaning or the lingering guilt of ghosting. — Rebecca Jennings, Vox, "I used all the best stuff for a week and it nearly broke me," 12 Dec. 2018 The story is drenched in the guilt of the resisters, who had intended only to stop the brutalities of a vicious collaborator. — Megan Koreman, WSJ, "Five Best: Megan Koreman on the Cost of Courage Under Nazism," 25 Oct. 2018 Obviously, cue the guilt about how Amma doesn’t need her anymore—make a lot of sense in light of the MBP diagnosis. — Cady Drell, Marie Claire, "The 10 Biggest Moments From 'Sharp Objects' Episode 7," 20 Aug. 2018 In the meantime, feel free to grab one of Bliss's iconic Jelly Glow Balls, guilt-free. — Leah Prinzivalli, Allure, "Bliss Announces Cruelty-Free Partnership With PETA," 23 July 2018 Red, White, and Blue Happy Hours: Not totally free (but then again, what is), these Independence Day dedicated happy hours cut down on the price — and the guilt — of indulging in your 5 p.m. cocktail. — Claire Wolters, Philly.com, "Where to find free food in Philly for July Fourth," 27 June 2018 There may even be implications for understanding eating disorders because food’s valence may be connected to the guilt experienced in conditions like anorexia. — Simon Makin, Scientific American, "A Matter of Taste: Can a Sweet Tooth Be Switched Off in the Brain?," 30 May 2018 Evangelion goes long on the psychological states of these kids fending off the end of the world, and the guilt of the adults responsible for them. — Joshua Rivera, GQ, "This Fucked Me Up: Neon Genesis Evangelion," 30 Apr. 2018 The disease is characterized by repeatedly eating a large amount of food in a short period of time, and feeling immense guilt or shame afterward. — Brittney Mcnamara, Teen Vogue, "How to Cope With Binge Eating Disorder Over the Holidays," 17 Dec. 2018

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

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Last Updated

19 Jan 2019

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Time Traveler for guilt

The first known use of guilt was before the 12th century

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More Definitions for guilt

guilt

noun

\ ˈgilt

Kids Definition of guilt

1 : responsibility for having done something wrong and especially something against the law He admitted his guilt.

2 : a feeling of shame or regret as a result of bad conduct

guilt

noun

\ ˈgilt

Medical Definition of guilt

: feelings of culpability especially for imagined offenses or from a sense of inadequacy : morbid self-reproach often manifest in marked preoccupation with the moral correctness of one's behavior aggressive responses originating in inner guilt and uncertainty