as in offenders
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 culprits
Incorrectly cleaning your appliances and cookware or blunt forces from heavier objects are other culprits behind the visible scratches.
—
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Some of the tunnels are so elaborate that the culprits have even installed electricity and lighting.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Last year, his team published a review of 150 years’ worth of cases around the world in which moss helped bring culprits to justice.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2026
The fatal beating of 17-year-old honors student Stuart Tay at a Buena Park home did indeed become a reality on New Year’s Eve in 1992, drawing international attention when a group of academically gifted teens from mostly stable, well-off families were identified as the culprits.
—Sean Emery, Oc Register, 3 Mar. 2026
That small cabal of handlers pulling the strings and feeding his ego, lust for revenge and greed are the real culprits who must be held accountable.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2026
But selling Apollo treasures on the black market proved to be not so easy, and the culprits finally put them up for sale on the Mineralogy Club of Antwerp's online site.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 28 Feb. 2026
One of the culprits for Duke this season is rebounding; the Blue Devils are terrible at ending defensive possessions with a rebound (214th in Division I in defensive rebounds per game).
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
InterNACHI’s moisture intrusion guidance emphasizes inspecting likely defect areas and moisture pathways, with grading and gutter/downspout configurations frequently identified as the culprits.
—Allison Palmer
updated February 19, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Some of the tunnels are so elaborate that the culprits have even installed electricity and lighting.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Last year, his team published a review of 150 years’ worth of cases around the world in which moss helped bring culprits to justice.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2026
The fatal beating of 17-year-old honors student Stuart Tay at a Buena Park home did indeed become a reality on New Year’s Eve in 1992, drawing international attention when a group of academically gifted teens from mostly stable, well-off families were identified as the culprits.
—Sean Emery, Oc Register, 3 Mar. 2026
That small cabal of handlers pulling the strings and feeding his ego, lust for revenge and greed are the real culprits who must be held accountable.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2026
But selling Apollo treasures on the black market proved to be not so easy, and the culprits finally put them up for sale on the Mineralogy Club of Antwerp's online site.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 28 Feb. 2026
One of the culprits for Duke this season is rebounding; the Blue Devils are terrible at ending defensive possessions with a rebound (214th in Division I in defensive rebounds per game).
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
InterNACHI’s moisture intrusion guidance emphasizes inspecting likely defect areas and moisture pathways, with grading and gutter/downspout configurations frequently identified as the culprits.
—Allison Palmer
updated February 19, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culprits
Noun
-
Creuzot, a former state district judge and pioneer of diversion programs that steer low-level offenders from prison into rehabilitation programs, ran on his record.—
Gromer Jeffers Jr,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The offenders forcefully entered the home, in the 700 block of Rosewood Avenue, after one of them posed as a food delivery worker to gain access to the home, Winnetka police said.—
Pioneer Press,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Whatley said those policies threaten law enforcement officers and public safety, arguing that criminals belong behind bars and pledging to continue backing law enforcement.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The decisive action of the Mexican government is positive for families on both sides of the border who suffer the devastating consequences of the activities of these transnational criminals.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Culprits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culprits. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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