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

Examples of guilty in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Prosecutor in Tyre Nichols trial tells jury that officers laughed, bragged in closing Bean and Smith were acquitted of civil rights violations, but all three were found guilty of obstruction. —Deena Zaru, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2024

Both men pleaded guilty weeks before they were set to go on trial in early 2024. —Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 7 Oct. 2024

That time, they were found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. —Kc Baker, People.com, 7 Oct. 2024

Centrists have been denigrated as squishy, weak in the knees, guilty of being sellouts — and worse, unpatriotic. —Michael S. Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 6 Oct. 2024