GUILTS 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

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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

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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 The role of the judge at this stage is not to determine guilt or innocence, but to ensure the law is followed and constitutional protections are honored. — Corey B. Friedman, Sun Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026 Gigi had joined Hollis’ girls’ weekend after befriending her online out of complicated guilt over her affair with Matthew. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Aug. 2026 Unlike guilt, which encourages improvement, shame fosters a belief of personal inadequacy, hindering learning. — Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 The Illinois House committee will not decide Ammons’ guilt but will determine whether the facts support disciplining her as a House member — a process that could range from no penalty to expulsion. — Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for guilt

Recent Examples of Synonyms for guilt

Noun

The Black women assaulting Clark and Cunningham feel no remorse.

— Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026
The defense attorney said her client feels immense remorse for what both his family and Styles’ family have been through.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of remorse

Noun

Where to lay the blame But researchers warn against blaming the emergence of an economy based on young men’s insecurities on one particular influencer.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
Once again, international organizations removed Hamas and their share of the blame for Gaza’s suffering from the conversation, stoking the anti-Israel narrative.

— Beth Bailey, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of blame

Noun

Amid the chatter about comeuppance, the celebrity blogger’s sister said that her brother is a good person who has expressed regret over the tone of some of his early-career scandals.

— Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026
Cuba's Foreign Ministry reacted that the expulsion involved 10 officials — not nine as the Dominicans had stated — and expressed regret over the decision by Dominican President Luis Abinader.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of regret

Noun

Based upon their replies, occupying Allied officials ranked their culpability, then tried the worst offenders — most famously in the Nuremberg trials, but also in numerous local tribunals.

— Fern Schumer Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
But the legal system’s binary standard—sane and guilty, or insane and not—fits imperfectly with human intuitions about culpability in tragedies like the Clancys’.

— Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 30 July 2026

Definition of culpability

Noun

Secrecy around taking a GLP-1 can also contribute to shame and stigma about medication.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Shame on Darien and shame on Little League Baseball for allowing a rule to intentionally walk a 12-year-old, not once but a couple of times.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2026