GUILT Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

guilt

noun

ˈgilt

Definition of guilt

as in remorse

a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing he was wracked with guilt after he accidentally broke his sister's antique grandfather clock

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in blame

responsibility for wrongdoing or failure the chief financial officer was saddled with the guilt for the company's failure

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 guilt But Carrie only feels shame and guilt over her actions, rejecting Emmaline’s celebratory gloating over the incident. — ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026 And Katerina, onstage, publicly admits her guilt over helping develop the AI that led to Ultron and the Sokovia attack. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026 But some traits associated with extreme psychopathy, including the ability to engage in violent behavior with little remorse or guilt, are typically found among serial killers. — David Dematteo, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026 But after a pack of orcas mortally wound the sperm whale, his father’s voice relieves him of that guilt. — Patrick Gomez, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for guilt

Recent Examples of Synonyms for guilt

Noun

The supremely overconfident Graver finally shows some remorse for the damage their dirty work has inflicted on innocent lives.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
The judge also weighed mitigating factors, including that Molloy was experiencing difficult personal circumstances, stopped of his own volition and had shown genuine remorse.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of remorse

Noun

Trump administration officials and allies are starting to debate who will shoulder the blame if Republicans perform poorly in November.

— Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Congressman John James met for their second and final debate before Election Day on Thursday night, this time trading blame for the state's condition.

— Elle Meyers, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of blame

Noun

Shauf quit drinking in 2020, and while The Party contains its fair share of drunken regret, alcohol is a more central subject on the afterparty’s other two outtakes.

— Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
At the same time, Harris, closer in age to his part than the women, moves and sounds like the old cowboys, with an affecting note of sorrow — the lion dying, and dying with regrets — sounding throughout his performance.

— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of regret

Noun

Her absence turned silence is a form of communication, one that symbolically washes her hands of culpability.

— Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2026
When cases proceed to a hearing, schools have a lower bar for determining culpability than the justice system’s standard of beyond a reasonable doubt.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of culpability

Noun

The French gêne par procuration delegates discomfort, while the German Fremdschämen means foreign shame.

— Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
While the imposing box set itself is a portable 12-pound film school and an instant status symbol on your shelf, there’s no shame in clicking over for a preview.

— Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026