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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of culprits
This isn’t always easy to see, but the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management offers information on identifying tracks and animal droppings, which may be helpful for figuring out potential culprits.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
Widespread software and charging problems were the culprits.
—James Raia, Mercury News, 4 May 2026
So, does Creasy expose the real culprits behind the deadly bombing and get Poe safely out of Brazil?
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
Why Grass Might Be Growing Slowly Even though slow turf growth lawns is often attributed to lawn disease or incorrect fertilizer, Tony Burris, Lawn Services Supervisor at Killingsworth Environmental, says the the biggest culprits are soil conditions and environmental conditions.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 2 May 2026
Rounded shoulders are one of the most common culprits behind in-flight neck and upper back pain, and stretching them is key to comfort.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026
State economists have pointed to new entrants to the job market needing more time to find work, as opposed to people losing their jobs as one of the culprits behind the rise in the jobless rate.
—Jim Turner, Sun Sentinel, 1 May 2026
April is peak tree pollen season — oak, pine, mulberry and willow are the main culprits right now — with grass pollen starting to overlap in May per Zyrtec’s pollen guide, making the next several weeks one of the harder stretches for allergy-prone families.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Long hours remain one of the biggest and most measurable culprits, with the report saying 35% of workers globally work more than 48 hours a week—occupational-health research often defines long working hours as 55 hours or more a week.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
Widespread software and charging problems were the culprits.
—James Raia, Mercury News, 4 May 2026
So, does Creasy expose the real culprits behind the deadly bombing and get Poe safely out of Brazil?
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
Why Grass Might Be Growing Slowly Even though slow turf growth lawns is often attributed to lawn disease or incorrect fertilizer, Tony Burris, Lawn Services Supervisor at Killingsworth Environmental, says the the biggest culprits are soil conditions and environmental conditions.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 2 May 2026
Rounded shoulders are one of the most common culprits behind in-flight neck and upper back pain, and stretching them is key to comfort.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026
State economists have pointed to new entrants to the job market needing more time to find work, as opposed to people losing their jobs as one of the culprits behind the rise in the jobless rate.
—Jim Turner, Sun Sentinel, 1 May 2026
April is peak tree pollen season — oak, pine, mulberry and willow are the main culprits right now — with grass pollen starting to overlap in May per Zyrtec’s pollen guide, making the next several weeks one of the harder stretches for allergy-prone families.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Long hours remain one of the biggest and most measurable culprits, with the report saying 35% of workers globally work more than 48 hours a week—occupational-health research often defines long working hours as 55 hours or more a week.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culprits
Noun
-
My office will continue to work alongside law enforcement partners like the Antioch Police Department to hold armed offenders accountable and pursue justice on behalf of all those harmed.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
-
The most effective way to deter criminal behavior is increasing the perception that would-be offenders will certainly get caught and sanctioned.—
Sarah Anderson,
Oc Register,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
However, Connecticut Citizens Defense League President Holly Sullivan told Fox News Digital that statewide Democrats chose to go after law-abiding citizens instead of criminals by passing this piece of legislation.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
-
Immigration policy is destroying the lives of families, not criminals.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Culprits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culprits. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
