Synonyms of culpability

culpability 1 of 2

noun

ˌkəl-pə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

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

• blame
• guilt
• onus
• fault
• complicity
• sinfulness
• accusation
• condemnation
• rap
• blameworthiness
• guiltiness
• remorse
• censure
• denunciation
• regret
• finger-pointing
• reproach
• shame
• self-reproach

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• innocence
• blamelessness
• guiltlessness
• faultlessness

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

• guilty
• blameworthy
• punishable
• reckless
• reprehensible
• blamable
• bad
• censurable
• at fault
• criminal
• reproachable
• improper
• foolish
• wrongful
• sinful
• irresponsible
• illegal
• wicked
• unlawful
• indictable
• illicit
• chargeable
• impeachable
• illegitimate
• disciplinable
• amerciable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• blameless
• perfect
• faultless
• impeccable
• pure
• flawless
• irreproachable
• innocent
• guiltless

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

Recent Examples of culpability

Noun

The family’s companies have settled many accusations of environmental violations by agreeing to pay fines and invest in better pollution prevention without admitting or denying culpability. — Molly Redden, ProPublica, 8 June 2026

The chain of events that led to this moment is contested, with those involved denying culpability. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 3 June 2026

Adjective

Bartscher granted a downward departure, finding that Ryan’s conduct was less serious than typical culpable negligent cases and citing her remorse, court records show. — Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 26 May 2026

In addition to the probe by the Maldives government, prosecutors in Rome have opened a culpable homicide investigation into the tragedy, sources told the Italian news agency ANSA. — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 19 May 2026