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
The real culprits in this story, however, are the broader societal and industry transformations that are putting increasing demands on electricity needs.
—
Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Since nothing else has fixed it, how about briefly benching the most frequent culprits?
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
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
Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Since nothing else has fixed it, how about briefly benching the most frequent culprits?
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culprits
Noun
-
The laws expand on prior legislation by increasing penalties for offenders and allowing vehicles to be towed for reckless driving.—
Drake Bentley,
jsonline.com,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Police Chief Johnny Jennings decried repeat criminal offenders and said Mecklenburg County again needs a detention facility for teenagers during a lunch in south Charlotte on Tuesday.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The trio has a surprisingly good theory about the implosion of the makeshift Astral Pulse; seems like Shroud never found the original, and someone has been outfitting low-level criminals with bootlegs that are going awry like Robert’s.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
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With spoofing tools, criminals can mimic real bank phone numbers and even use AI to reproduce familiar voices.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Culprits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culprits. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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