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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of culprits
These boxes keep them from being exposed to the heat and moisture that are culprits for the unsightly turning.
—
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
If guys aren’t going to hold themselves to certain competitive standards, Gobert suggested, Wolves coach Chris Finch should start benching the culprits.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
Historically, it's been thought these volcanic arcs were the primary culprits of injecting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
—Ben Mather, Space.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Priced at $88 for a 30-day supply of capsules, the supplement adresses hair loss among Gen X and Boomer men for whom later-stage androgenetic alopecia is perhaps one cause of hair loss, but aging and collagen loss, among other biological shifts, are the foremost culprits.
—Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 3 Feb. 2026
The Weiss report said that changes to tort laws were the culprits.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoman, 3 Feb. 2026
Identifying the culprits is difficult, and Russia denies responsibility.
—Lorne Cook, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
While she and his working mom (Sarah Snook) are initially seen as culprits, the boy’s selfish father (Jake Lacy, who played similar roles in the dire Moriarty adaptation Apples Never Fall and The White Lotus) turns out to be the guiltiest party of all.
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
These are all common culprits of wall stains.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 27 Jan. 2026
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
If guys aren’t going to hold themselves to certain competitive standards, Gobert suggested, Wolves coach Chris Finch should start benching the culprits.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
Historically, it's been thought these volcanic arcs were the primary culprits of injecting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
—Ben Mather, Space.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Priced at $88 for a 30-day supply of capsules, the supplement adresses hair loss among Gen X and Boomer men for whom later-stage androgenetic alopecia is perhaps one cause of hair loss, but aging and collagen loss, among other biological shifts, are the foremost culprits.
—Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 3 Feb. 2026
The Weiss report said that changes to tort laws were the culprits.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoman, 3 Feb. 2026
Identifying the culprits is difficult, and Russia denies responsibility.
—Lorne Cook, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
While she and his working mom (Sarah Snook) are initially seen as culprits, the boy’s selfish father (Jake Lacy, who played similar roles in the dire Moriarty adaptation Apples Never Fall and The White Lotus) turns out to be the guiltiest party of all.
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
These are all common culprits of wall stains.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culprits
Noun
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Cowley wants to champion policies that attack the root causes of violence while holding offenders accountable, according to her campaign website.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
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My key priorities include prosecuting violent offenders, gangs, traffickers, fentanyl dealers, and cartels; supporting local law enforcement; pursuing lawsuits to defend Texas; and aggressively investigating and prosecuting fraud.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Violence is widespread in the city proper, with large encampments where meth and other drugs are readily available and criminals reportedly exploit the city’s free bus system to carry out offenses.—
Michael Ruiz , Adriana James-Rodil,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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Godwin is well known in the space, having assisted law enforcement nationwide leading to the removal of hundreds of criminals from the streets.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Culprits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culprits. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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