Synonym Chooser

How is the word guilty different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of guilty are blamable, blameworthy, and culpable. While all these words mean "deserving reproach or punishment," guilty implies responsibility for or consciousness of crime, sin, or, at the least, grave error or misdoing.

guilty of a breach of etiquette

How are the words blameworthy and blamable related as synonyms of guilty?

Both blameworthy and blamable apply to any degree of reprehensibility.

conduct adjudged blameworthy
an accident for which no one is blamable

When could culpable be used to replace guilty?

The words culpable and guilty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, culpable is weaker than guilty and is likely to connote malfeasance or errors of ignorance, omission, or negligence.

culpable neglect

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 guilty Sweeney pleaded guilty in August to lesser second-degree murder charges. Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2025 No verdict of guilty can ever bring my dad back. Christina Hall, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025 Gein was found guilty of murder, but in a follow-up proceeding was ruled to be not guilty — again by reason of insanity. Jr Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025 Gein claimed his crimes were driven by a desire to reconstruct his dead mother, Augusta Gein (played by Laurie Metcalf), and was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Megan McCluskey, Time, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for guilty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guilty
ashamed
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, Sami, a city boy ashamed of his roots, arrives for a relaxing weekend on his family farm.
    Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025
  • On a basic human level, the mayor should be ashamed of himself.
    Boston Herald editorial staff, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Guilty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guilty. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on guilty

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