culpability 1 of 2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

culpable

2 of 2

adjective

Synonym Chooser

How is the word culpable different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of culpable are blamable, blameworthy, and guilty. While all these words mean "deserving reproach or punishment," culpable is weaker than guilty and is likely to connote malfeasance or errors of ignorance, omission, or negligence.

culpable neglect

How are the words blameworthy and blamable related as synonyms of culpable?

Both blameworthy and blamable apply to any degree of reprehensibility.

conduct adjudged blameworthy
an accident for which no one is blamable

When could guilty be used to replace culpable?

While in some cases nearly identical to culpable, guilty implies responsibility for or consciousness of crime, sin, or, at the least, grave error or misdoing.

guilty of a breach of etiquette

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of culpability
Noun
But there are challenges facing Smith that did not exist during Dawkins’ tenure and the early years of the Haase era.) — Despite what many Stanford fans believe, Muir’s culpability in the football program’s regression is far less direct. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2025 The stark reality of all those graves raised many questions for him about military violence and the moral culpability of those who fought. Malcolm Hillgartner Tanya Pérez Lance Neal, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Oswald was found to be the sole person culpable for Kennedy's death on November 22, 1963, by the Warren Commission in 1964. Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025 That report was part of a voluntary compliance agreement negotiated with the federal government following a two-year federal investigation that found the city culpable of steering heavy industry away from white communities and into Black and Latino communities. Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for culpability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culpability
Noun
  • Obviously, none of their former ballclubs have met expectations, but the managers don’t deserve all of the blame for the losing seasons.
    Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
  • Dedra's peers were eager to lay all of the blame at her feet.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges and denied all allegations against him.
    Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 18 May 2025
  • Maybe making others feel guilty did more harm than good.
    Alfredo Sosa, Christian Science Monitor, 18 May 2025
Noun
  • Proposing that the artifacts belong where their makers live now is sensible, but the problem at the heart of Dahomey is its presumption of guilt without resolution or remedy.
    Armond White, National Review, 16 May 2025
  • That lawsuit was settled within 24 hours for $20 million, with no admission of guilt from Combs.
    Elizabeth Rosner, People.com, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • But Miss Manners acknowledges that there is also the less blameworthy impulse to offer comfort — not just sympathy — when there is no real comfort to be offered.
    Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2025
  • But Miss Manners acknowledges that there is also the less blameworthy impulse to offer comfort — not just sympathy — when there is no real comfort to be offered.
    Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Culpability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culpability. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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