Synonyms of guilty

guilty

adjective

ˈgil-tē 

as in ashamed

suffering from or expressive of a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing

she was burdened with a guilty conscience after ignoring the stranger's request for help

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ashamed
• embarrassed
• apologetic
• sorry
• shamefaced
• shamed
• remorseful
• blushing
• repentant
• regretful
• culpable
• contrite
• penitent
• sheepish
• blameworthy
• penitential
• rueful
• compunctious
• blamable
• chagrined
• hangdog

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shameless
• unashamed
• unrepentant
• remorseless
• brazen
• impudent
• innocent
• blameless
• cheeky
• unapologetic
• impenitent
• guiltless

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

Recent Examples of guilty

Jurors found Brian Harold Christensen, 50, guilty at trial Thursday before Sacramento Superior Court Judge Benjamin Galloway. —Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025

An Arizona man who pleaded guilty to murder charges after leaving his 2-year-old daughter to die in a sweltering hot car for hours as temperatures climbed to 109 degrees Fahrenheit has killed himself, officials said Wednesday. —Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025

Adame, who was also convicted of practicing medicine without a certificate, was found guilty of manslaughter in a similar case in 2024. —Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025

Three of the four men on trial in the drive-by shooting death of a 13-year-old Union County girl were found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison Thursday. —Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 6 Nov. 2025