CULPABILITIES Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

culpability 1 of 2

noun

ˌkəl-pə-ˈbi-lə-tē

Definition of culpability next

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

ˈkəl-pə-bəl

as in guilty

deserving reproach or blame are you any less culpable for murder if you acted in the heat of passion?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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

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Recent Examples of culpability

Noun

Multiple Democrats have come out in favor of ousting her, including two who called on her to resign shortly after the Ethics panel came back with its finding of her culpability. —

Jared Gans, The Hill, 21 Apr. 2026 That theory expanded into what became a third-party-culpability defense in the murder trials. —

Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 16 Apr. 2026

Adjective

Haaland bursts our bubble almost immediately by scoring in the opening five minutes, and Burnley miss a few good first-half chances, with striker Zian Flemming particularly culpable. —

Nnamdi Onyeagwara, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026 According to Woolf, Kovarcik acted as Rahman’s supervisor and was found to be much more culpable for what transpired. —

Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for culpability

Recent Examples of Synonyms for culpability

Noun

Instead, sources say, Netanyahu lays the blame at the feet of the US negotiators – Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff – for steering the president toward an end to the hostilities.

— Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 29 May 2026
Gorman’s death quickly became a lightning rod in the polarizing discourse over immigration policy, as national and local conservative politicians placed blame on the state’s sanctuary laws.

— Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026