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
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
No one has been charged with any criminal culpability in the accident, but the ship’s captain James Cutfield and two other crew members are under investigation for their role in the deaths of the passengers, which included one crew member.
—Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 20 May 2025
Last season, viewers watched Matty Matlock go undercover at Jacobson Moore, an elite law firm in New York City, to investigate its culpability in the opioid epidemic.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for culpability
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
No one has been charged with any criminal culpability in the accident, but the ship’s captain James Cutfield and two other crew members are under investigation for their role in the deaths of the passengers, which included one crew member.
—Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 20 May 2025
Last season, viewers watched Matty Matlock go undercover at Jacobson Moore, an elite law firm in New York City, to investigate its culpability in the opioid epidemic.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for culpability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culpability
Noun
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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
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Russia has so far refused U.S. proposals for a 30-day ceasefire, and Trump has expressed increasing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, while also placing blame on Ukraine for not making a deal to end the fighting.—
Alex Gangitano,
The Hill,
24 June 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Culpability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culpability. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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