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
Each company filed responses to Castillo’s lawsuit denying culpability for the accident.
—
Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
Based on a true story, Erin Brockovich follows the titular law firm worker who stumbles upon records involving the Pacific Gas & Electric Company's culpability in a contamination incident.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026
Instead, the book offers a bitingly funny and occasionally heartbreaking twist on the classic Instagram-versus-reality story, and a space to address our own culpability within the safe confines of fiction.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Lukáš Dostál surrendered six goals on 29 shots, with culpability to spread around between him and his defense.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for culpability
Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
Based on a true story, Erin Brockovich follows the titular law firm worker who stumbles upon records involving the Pacific Gas & Electric Company's culpability in a contamination incident.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026
Instead, the book offers a bitingly funny and occasionally heartbreaking twist on the classic Instagram-versus-reality story, and a space to address our own culpability within the safe confines of fiction.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Lukáš Dostál surrendered six goals on 29 shots, with culpability to spread around between him and his defense.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for culpability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culpability
Noun
-
About eight in 10 respondents said gas prices are straining their household budgets, and 63% blame Trump for that increase given the war with Iran.—
Domenico Montanaro,
NPR,
9 May 2026
-
Russia declared a unilateral ceasefire for Friday and Saturday, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a truce that was supposed to begin on May 6, but neither of them held as the parties traded blame for continuing attacks.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
The judge also made clear the scope of a preliminary hearing is limited, focused on whether prosecutors can establish probable cause, not determining guilt or innocence, but said the defense still needs sufficient time to prepare given the volume of material.—
Adam Sabes , Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
-
The guilt swells and swells while the sweater sits and sits.—
Liana Satenstein,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Culpability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culpability. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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