1
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
The little girl’s face is never seen onscreen; in effect, the onscreen child becomes an extension of the mother — there is no boundary between the illness of the one and the guilt and anxiety of the other.
—
Nate Jones, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026
Desai has spent time processing his experiences, recognizing the way he is affected by feelings like survivor's guilt — his grief at knowing his brother will never get to enjoy some of the simple pleasures in life, like hanging out with friends on a Friday night.
—Kat McGowan, NPR, 31 Dec. 2025
Although, there are ways to get rid of heirlooms without guilt.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2025
Holland plays these emotional crosscurrents with exquisite restraint, letting hesitation, guilt, and longing flicker across his face before a single word lands.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for guilt
Nate Jones, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026
Desai has spent time processing his experiences, recognizing the way he is affected by feelings like survivor's guilt — his grief at knowing his brother will never get to enjoy some of the simple pleasures in life, like hanging out with friends on a Friday night.
—Kat McGowan, NPR, 31 Dec. 2025
Although, there are ways to get rid of heirlooms without guilt.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2025
Holland plays these emotional crosscurrents with exquisite restraint, letting hesitation, guilt, and longing flicker across his face before a single word lands.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for guilt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guilt
Noun
-
The film may initially present Man-su as a sympathetic family man trying to make ends meet, but Lee quickly subverts those sentiments once Man-su’s methodical process betrays no sense of remorse.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
-
In the transcript, Neves Valente repeatedly refused to express remorse.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
While no blame was assigned, the hearings were open to the public and often gave interested parties, including family members of the person killed, their first opportunity for answers.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Both cases are apt to serve as models for how to prevent the kind of school shootings still plaguing the nation and could set legal precedent for who shoulders the blame when children have access to guns and open fire on campus.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
While many key figures—including Bush and then-Secretary of State Colin Powell—later expressed regret over the absence of WMDs and policy missteps, Cheney famously defended the invasion and the narrative around it in the following years.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
-
For viewers and those who had a hand in making the show, the only regret is that there isn’t more Patriot to devour.—
Claire McNear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The attacker bears all of the culpability; the defender, none of it.—
Oded J K Faran,
Oc Register,
21 Oct. 2025
-
And defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver revealed Thursday that Fitzpatrick also had culpability on the play.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
There is no place for intimidation or ego tripping disguised as ‘leadership,’ or for using titles and stages to instill fear and shame instead of empower.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
-
There is no place for intimidation or ego tripping disguised as 'leadership' or for using titles and stages to instill fear and shame instead of empower.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Guilt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guilt. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share