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
That stack also featured several books by David Irving, a disgraced British historian who has denied the existence of the Nazi gas chambers and helped popularize the theory about Mr. Churchill’s culpability in World War II espoused by Mr. Cooper on Mr. Carlson’s show. Joseph Bernstein, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025 An inspector general's report later noted the institution's culpability in failing to supervise the duo. Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 20 May 2025
Adjective
Director of football Jon Rudkin is the figure many protesters see as the most culpable for Leicester’s decline. Rob Tanner, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025 But in Friday’s season finale, Coop is able to not only acquit himself of murder and find the real culpable party, but is also given a chance to rejoin the professional ranks that had previously turned their backs on him. Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for culpability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culpability
Noun
  • The New York Yankees' infield has underperformed this season, and one of their former top prospects is not free of blame.
    Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
  • Boeing received much of the blame for delivering the plane to Alaska Air without the four bolts needed to hold the door plug in place.
    Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • What To Know Shannon McShane was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to influencing a public servant, perjury, and retaliation against a witness or victim.
    Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
  • If found guilty, Amazon could be fined up to one percent of its annual UK turnover.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • In very unhinged behavior, Lucy tracks Sophie down (after her boss expressly tells her the client doesn't want any contact whatsoever), and unsurprisingly, Sophie admonishes her for invading her privacy in an attempt to absolve her feelings of guilt.
    Aisha Harris, NPR, 21 June 2025
  • The Holocaust looms over discussions about Israel, with many claiming the country’s sense of historical guilt has made it, until recently, reluctant to criticize Israeli politics.
    Agnes Mueller, The Conversation, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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 2 Jul. 2025.

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