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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Is there a kind of public culpability that ought to be acknowledged?
—
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
Traffic investigators wrote in the affidavit that Gregory, Bryce and Brayden were trying to conceal their vehicles’ speeds at the time of the collision, hide alcohol consumption and cover up leaving Gregory’s house together in an attempt to reduce their culpability.
—Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 29 Nov. 2025
Now Takaichi, a hawkish figure who has previously drawn Beijing’s ire for questioning some of the narratives around imperial Japan’s culpability for its war atrocities, has taken the step of speaking plainly on the Taiwan issue.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025
So the question of Carol’s culpability and guilt is an open question for the show.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for culpability
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
Traffic investigators wrote in the affidavit that Gregory, Bryce and Brayden were trying to conceal their vehicles’ speeds at the time of the collision, hide alcohol consumption and cover up leaving Gregory’s house together in an attempt to reduce their culpability.
—Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 29 Nov. 2025
Now Takaichi, a hawkish figure who has previously drawn Beijing’s ire for questioning some of the narratives around imperial Japan’s culpability for its war atrocities, has taken the step of speaking plainly on the Taiwan issue.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025
So the question of Carol’s culpability and guilt is an open question for the show.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for culpability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culpability
Noun
-
Israel and Hamas have traded blame over the violations of the deal.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
11 Jan. 2026
-
On the five-year anniversary this week, the White House launched a web page casting blame on Democrats, then-Vice President Mike Pence, and Capitol Police for the violence that transpired that day.—
Justin Papp,
CNBC,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Advertisement Because women are socialized to be responsible, empathetic, and attuned to others’ needs, deciding to leave can result in feelings of guilt and shame.—
Oona Metz,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Depression symptoms include feelings of sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, guilt or irritability, as well as loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Culpability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culpability. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
