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
Playground operators can be held responsible for unsafe, unmaintained equipment—although damages tend to be much smaller than the United States—but courts reject culpability for injuries that happen as a part of normal playground use.
—
Carrie Lukas, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Absolving the pitching staff of culpability in the Dodgers’ fall from the top is understandable.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 25 Aug. 2025
As Vahid enlists the services of acquaintances whose lives were also forever altered by Eghbal’s cruelties, the thirst for revenge and the sense of danger escalate—as do questions of moral choice and culpability.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
The verdict in Miami federal civil court marked the first time in three attempts over the past three years that jurors found culpability with Tesla’s Autopilot system at trial - a historic marker, said attorney Brett Schreiber.
—Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for culpability
Carrie Lukas, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Absolving the pitching staff of culpability in the Dodgers’ fall from the top is understandable.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 25 Aug. 2025
As Vahid enlists the services of acquaintances whose lives were also forever altered by Eghbal’s cruelties, the thirst for revenge and the sense of danger escalate—as do questions of moral choice and culpability.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
The verdict in Miami federal civil court marked the first time in three attempts over the past three years that jurors found culpability with Tesla’s Autopilot system at trial - a historic marker, said attorney Brett Schreiber.
—Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for culpability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culpability
Noun
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On multiple occasions, Johnson has pointed the blame at those who flee police and credited officers with showing restraint in pursuits.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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Democrats and Republicans in Congress have been playing the blame game this week, accusing the other of not being willing to negotiate.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The series’ first season, chronicling the crimes of Milwaukee serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, prompted a conversation about the exploitation of Black and disabled people’s stories for entertainment, while the season following the Menendez Brothers led to a real-world reconsidering of their guilt.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
7 Oct. 2025
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As anger fades into apathy and grief is aggravated by guilt, the public also chooses silence.—
Yangyang Cheng,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Culpability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culpability. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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