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
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of culpability
Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 23 June 2025
The View From Republicans Republicans used their time at the House hearing to accuse the blue-state governors of culpability in the deaths of Americans killed by non-citizens; Democrats often used theirs to say that Trump was shredding the Constitution.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 12 June 2025
Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 June 2025
Extensive testing showed no genetic or environmental cause for her son’s condition, yet Hess felt somehow culpable.
—Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for culpability
Noun
The extension would have detained Gamboa until June 23, but Gill later said his office was unable to decide Gamboa's culpability in the shooting, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 23 June 2025
The View From Republicans Republicans used their time at the House hearing to accuse the blue-state governors of culpability in the deaths of Americans killed by non-citizens; Democrats often used theirs to say that Trump was shredding the Constitution.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 12 June 2025
Adjective
The majority sees no problem in executing someone whose co-defendant might have been more culpable but was smart enough to cop a deal to elude the death penalty.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 June 2025
Extensive testing showed no genetic or environmental cause for her son’s condition, yet Hess felt somehow culpable.
—Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for culpability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culpability
Noun
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It could be argued that the question was more about accountability than blame.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
17 July 2025
-
Aspirational Luxury Falls In 2025, the luxury market is looking down the barrel at its first major slowdown in 15 years, excepting the Covid years, and BCG puts much of the blame on brands’ overemphasizing the aspirational consumer segment.—
Pamela N. Danziger,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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In September, the former newsreader was handed a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years after pleading guilty to making indecent images of children.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
15 July 2025
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Jessica Leslie agreed to plead guilty to a charge of criminal contempt that accused her of willfully disobeying court rules against disclosure of grand jury information.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
15 July 2025
Noun
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There's a lot of guilt … a ton of fear, but there's also deep gratitude.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 July 2025
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Wood sent to prison after violating probation A Jan. 1, 2010, incident — five months after his initial probation ended — led to an admission of guilt by Wood.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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His Stoic Challenge framework invites you to see a setback not as something terrible, blameworthy or unfair but instead as a test of your ingenuity and resilience.—
Hanna Hart,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Culpability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culpability. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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