Synonyms of culprit

culprit

noun

ˈkəl-prət 

as in offender

a person who has committed a crime

the police caught the culprit a mere two blocks from the scene of the crime

Synonyms & Similar Words

• offender
• criminal
• defendant
• lawbreaker
• suspect
• perpetrator
• malefactor
• miscreant
• crook
• accomplice
• principal
• villain
• perp
• convict
• outlaw
• wrongdoer
• misdemeanant
• thug
• trespasser
• transgressor
• desperado
• gun
• gangster
• jailbird
• triggerman
• fish
• sinner
• hooligan
• hoodlum
• mobster
• racketeer
• recidivist
• accused
• evildoer
• arrestee
• misdoer
• detainee
• backslider
• button man
• misfeasor
• gunsel
• gallows bird
• gunman
• enforcer
• hit man
• repeater
• blackhander
• relapser

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lawman
• gangbuster

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of culprit

As the identity of the culprit becomes the talk of the school, Cartman immerses himself in 9/11 conspiracy theories, believing that the terrorist attack was actually an inside job staged by the Bush administration. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026

To sleuth out who the culprits are, Murashige lends on the extra-sharp deductive skills of Kanbei, who implored for death rather than imprisonment. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026

In 2024, the culprits returned to poison the six trees again, Gough said. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Some common culprits include beans, cruciferous vegetables, and dairy. — Lindsay Curtis, HEALTH, 12 Aug. 2026

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