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
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Recent Examples of culprit
The culprit at the time was determined to not be related to the technology but to insufficient manpower.
—
Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 9 June 2026
Calcium is another common culprit.
—Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 9 June 2026
The culprits have all been caught and confessed, yet the killings remain unexplained.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 9 June 2026
The internet may be full of people who want to outlaw leaf blowers, but misophonic triggers tend to share a bodily quality, an aurally traceable culprit such as a person crunching or sighing.
—Sloane Crosley, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for culprit
Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 9 June 2026
Calcium is another common culprit.
—Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 9 June 2026
The culprits have all been caught and confessed, yet the killings remain unexplained.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 9 June 2026
The internet may be full of people who want to outlaw leaf blowers, but misophonic triggers tend to share a bodily quality, an aurally traceable culprit such as a person crunching or sighing.
—Sloane Crosley, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for culprit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culprit
Noun
-
The offender fled in a red SUV in an unknown direction.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
-
The program, which is likely to run in the afternoons or evenings, and would be open anyone looking to change careers, returning veterans and ex-offenders, Awwad said.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
An allegation last year by a provincial police commander that top officers and officials were colluding with organized criminals led Ramaphosa to announce a national investigation into police corruption.—
Michelle Gumede,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
-
Roman emperors, sometimes urged on by the crowd, were known to grant pardons (to criminals) and freedom (to the enslaved) after an especially noteworthy performance.—
Cullen Murphy,
The Atlantic,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Culprit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culprit. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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