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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of culprits
While disposals, drains, trash bins, and dishwashers are some of the most likely culprits, your walls and other surfaces could be a source of lingering odors, too.
—
Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025
The real culprits of America’s education problem may be skyrocketing tuition and lack of entry-level opportunities—pushing new Gen Z graduates into blue-collar careers.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025
The culprits for this atmospheric crime were chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), ubiquitous industrial chemicals.
—Andrea Miotti, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
But the way the storyline wraps ups — with one of the three billionaires, Logan Lerman’s Jay, deciding to step up and own his role in the season’s shady dealings, therefore taking himself down alongside his other culprits — was certainly some wishful thinking that could, one day, prove prophetic.
—Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
While countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran and China are notable culprits, India is becoming notorious as one of the only democracies engaging in acts of aggression against Indian expats.
—Mohammed Jawad, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025
At the beginning of Level 2 in Los Angeles, Hoffman lays out her culprits for the mess that is modern dating.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
The reasons for price hikes are many, but fluctuating natural gas prices and the costs of maintaining adequate transmission capacity are among the obvious culprits, to say nothing of increasing demand.
—Yaël Ossowski, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
The illicit, years-long gambling scheme, per the Feds, involved the culprits trading non-public information only known in NBA circles to rake in millions of dollars.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025
The real culprits of America’s education problem may be skyrocketing tuition and lack of entry-level opportunities—pushing new Gen Z graduates into blue-collar careers.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025
The culprits for this atmospheric crime were chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), ubiquitous industrial chemicals.
—Andrea Miotti, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
But the way the storyline wraps ups — with one of the three billionaires, Logan Lerman’s Jay, deciding to step up and own his role in the season’s shady dealings, therefore taking himself down alongside his other culprits — was certainly some wishful thinking that could, one day, prove prophetic.
—Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
While countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran and China are notable culprits, India is becoming notorious as one of the only democracies engaging in acts of aggression against Indian expats.
—Mohammed Jawad, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025
At the beginning of Level 2 in Los Angeles, Hoffman lays out her culprits for the mess that is modern dating.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
The reasons for price hikes are many, but fluctuating natural gas prices and the costs of maintaining adequate transmission capacity are among the obvious culprits, to say nothing of increasing demand.
—Yaël Ossowski, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
The illicit, years-long gambling scheme, per the Feds, involved the culprits trading non-public information only known in NBA circles to rake in millions of dollars.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culprits
Noun
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Information on Level 3 offenders, and Level 2 offenders (classified after July 12, 2013), is available to the public through SORB’s website.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
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Among the offenders are Troy Franklin, Garett Bolles and Luke Wattenberg.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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To suggest that another candidate’s supporters are criminals — particularly when that candidate is, by all measures, poised to win at least a plurality of votes in the city — does not seem like a recipe for earning New Yorkers’ support.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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Binance also lacked protocols — standard for financial services companies — to report transactions for money laundering risks, according to the Justice Department, and employees were well aware that such an oversight would invite criminals to the platform.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Culprits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culprits. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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