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
After Thursday’s game, Weaver faced questions from reporters as an obvious culprit in spoiling McLean’s masterpiece.
—
Will Sammon, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
The culprit is volatile oil and jet fuel prices, which have spiked sharply since the war in the Middle East began and fighting near the narrow Strait of Hormuz created a chokepoint for global oil supplies.
—Rio Yamat, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
The culprit is volatile oil and jet fuel prices, which have spiked sharply since the war in the Middle East began and fighting near the Strait of Hormuz created a chokepoint for global oil supplies.
—ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
If your water isn't flowing from your faucet like usual, the likely culprit is a clogged aerator.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for culprit
Will Sammon, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
The culprit is volatile oil and jet fuel prices, which have spiked sharply since the war in the Middle East began and fighting near the narrow Strait of Hormuz created a chokepoint for global oil supplies.
—Rio Yamat, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
The culprit is volatile oil and jet fuel prices, which have spiked sharply since the war in the Middle East began and fighting near the Strait of Hormuz created a chokepoint for global oil supplies.
—ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
If your water isn't flowing from your faucet like usual, the likely culprit is a clogged aerator.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for culprit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culprit
Noun
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The unlawful taking of items from within a building which is either open to the general public or to which the offender has legal access.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
17 Apr. 2026
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According to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office, Gregory Keyier-Deniro Davis was also found guilty of four counts of felony firearm, felony assault, assault with intent to commit great bodily harm and habitual offender.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The scheme is designed to identify suspected criminals, combat identity fraud, and to police the EU's limit on 90-day stays within a 180-day period, according to the European Commission.—
Emma Clarke,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Apr. 2026
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Rex Heuermann, the man known as the Gilgo Beach killer, admitted to killing eight women over a span of decades, and the FBI is now looking into what motivated the 62-year-old to carry out his crimes to help capture other criminals in the future.—
Matt Lavietes,
NBC news,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Culprit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culprit. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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