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
The clash over Wexner’s naming rights has emerged as a proxy PR war running parallel to the ongoing legal fight over Ohio State’s culpability for Strauss’ abuse—with the first of those cases scheduled to go to trial this fall.
—
Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The autopsy report, however, is only a classification of how the person died and does in itself not imply that the death was intentional or determine any criminal culpability.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The Pick Six column wades into the Packers’ fourth-quarter collapse to assess LaFleur’s culpability, while all wait to hear whether the organization extends the coach’s contract or considers moving in another direction.
—Mike Sando, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
When Congress was writing the drug laws in the 1980s and ‘90s, it was thought that higher purity in meth suggested greater culpability.
—Kevin Krause, Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for culpability
Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The autopsy report, however, is only a classification of how the person died and does in itself not imply that the death was intentional or determine any criminal culpability.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The Pick Six column wades into the Packers’ fourth-quarter collapse to assess LaFleur’s culpability, while all wait to hear whether the organization extends the coach’s contract or considers moving in another direction.
—Mike Sando, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
When Congress was writing the drug laws in the 1980s and ‘90s, it was thought that higher purity in meth suggested greater culpability.
—Kevin Krause, Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for culpability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culpability
Noun
-
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was among those who made the claim, pinning blame on the United States for the de facto blockade.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Somehow Taparjan finds a way to reckon with her own messiness with vulnerability and lets go of the blame and shame game that many parents, children and siblings fall into.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Jurors had to decide the question by a preponderance of the evidence, a lower standard than reasonable doubt in the guilt phase.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Originally sentenced to three years in prison, Seungri’s term was reduced to 18 months in 2022 following his admission of guilt.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Culpability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culpability. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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