as in blame
responsibility for wrongdoing or failure
cannot find culpability where there is neither knowledge that a crime has been committed nor evidence of intent to commit a crime
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Recent Examples of culpability
Not to be outdone, Meta, fighting a pivotal lawsuit about its culpability with teens and social media addiction, also started multiple super PACs recently, dumping in tens of millions to support candidates — Republican or Democrat — who are against AI regulation (or at least any laws with teeth).
—
Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
For decades, industries hoping to avoid regulation have reminded us about our personal culpability for social problems.
—Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026
The clash over Wexner’s naming rights has emerged as a proxy PR war running parallel to the ongoing legal fight over Ohio State’s culpability for Strauss’ abuse—with the first of those cases scheduled to go to trial this fall.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The autopsy report, however, is only a classification of how the person died and does in itself not imply that the death was intentional or determine any criminal culpability.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for culpability
Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
For decades, industries hoping to avoid regulation have reminded us about our personal culpability for social problems.
—Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026
The clash over Wexner’s naming rights has emerged as a proxy PR war running parallel to the ongoing legal fight over Ohio State’s culpability for Strauss’ abuse—with the first of those cases scheduled to go to trial this fall.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The autopsy report, however, is only a classification of how the person died and does in itself not imply that the death was intentional or determine any criminal culpability.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for culpability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culpability
Noun
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This dynamic, known in counseling circles as partner-blame, is well documented in Christian purity and addiction-recovery literature.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
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When voters worry about their wallets, incumbents usually get the blame.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Relieved of their blindfolds, the men now wore heavy rucksacks filled with colored rocks representing their anger (red), guilt and shame (black), and sadness (blue).—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Ashleigh Stovall described the guilt of having a good day, the confusion of feeling fine, then feeling terrible about giving herself permission to experience anything but sadness.—
Brit McCandless Farmer,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Culpability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culpability. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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