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
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Recent Examples of culpability
With Macklem especially, the play wants to keep the issue of culpability unsettled as long as possible.
—
Jesse Green, New York Times, 9 May 2025
In February, an NYPD administrative judge recommended that Lieutenant Jonathan Rivera be removed from the police force without benefits after finding that Rivera broke the law, violated NYPD use-of-force protocols, and lied to cover up his culpability in the 2019 killing of Allan Feliz.
—Lourdes Rosado, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2025
The Trial explores a chillingly plausible near-future in which parents are held legally responsible for the crimes of their children, raising unsettling questions about justice, culpability, and the limits of state control.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2025
By the final episode, Jamie's decision to change his plea to guilty forces his family to confront his culpability and their role in shaping him.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for culpability
Jesse Green, New York Times, 9 May 2025
In February, an NYPD administrative judge recommended that Lieutenant Jonathan Rivera be removed from the police force without benefits after finding that Rivera broke the law, violated NYPD use-of-force protocols, and lied to cover up his culpability in the 2019 killing of Allan Feliz.
—Lourdes Rosado, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2025
The Trial explores a chillingly plausible near-future in which parents are held legally responsible for the crimes of their children, raising unsettling questions about justice, culpability, and the limits of state control.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2025
By the final episode, Jamie's decision to change his plea to guilty forces his family to confront his culpability and their role in shaping him.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for culpability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culpability
Noun
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Surviving family and friends suffered the injustice of the blame being put on Liverpool fans.—
Julia Andersen,
CNN Money,
31 May 2025
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In other words, many of their go-to argument tactics are riddled with errors that are designed to deflect blame and derail conversations.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
Noun
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An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt: A 23-year-old woman from Peoria was arrested on charges of burglary and retail theft at 4:42 p.m. May 21 at North Washington Street and East Ogden Avenue.—
Steve Metsch,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2025
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For Omer Shem Tov, among the last of the hostages to be released before the ceasefire collapsed in March, there is an ever-present feeling of guilt.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Culpability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culpability. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
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