as in blame
responsibility for wrongdoing or failure
cannot find culpability where there is neither knowledge that a crime has been committed nor evidence of intent to commit a crime
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in guilty
deserving reproach or blame
are you any less culpable for murder if you acted in the heat of passion?
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 culpability
Jennifer Homans, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Of course, that's assuming that any independent investigation of the crisis doesn't point culpability in Newsom's direction for governance and preparedness failures.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
To be white is to be the exception here and, in a way, to be culpable.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for culpability
Noun
With Bunraku puppets, culpability for unbearable individual acts is shared, making intimate human violence possible and even disturbingly beautiful.
—Jennifer Homans, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Of course, that's assuming that any independent investigation of the crisis doesn't point culpability in Newsom's direction for governance and preparedness failures.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
Audits and jail time are also on the table if you are found culpable of tax fraud.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
To be white is to be the exception here and, in a way, to be culpable.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for culpability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culpability
Noun
-
Ruby cast blame on Hildebrandt for what had occurred and agreed to testify against the counselor as part of a plea deal.—
Rachel Brodsky,
TIME,
25 Feb. 2025
-
However, the blame sits with the cybercriminals behind the attacks, not the platform itself and certainly not the victim either.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The other Cantu, who was found guilty of murdering his cousin and his fiancée in 2001, was executed on Feb. 28, 2024, despite a public campaign to reconsider the decision when a key witness recanted their testimony.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA TODAY,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes reports to prison for defrauding investors Holmes, 41, was found guilty of four counts of investor fraud and conspiracy in January 2022 and sentenced to 135 months, or 11 1/4 years, in prison.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt: A 52-year-old woman from Naperville was arrested on two charges of vandalism at 11:54 a.m. Feb. 11 in the 700 block of Inland Circle.—
Steve Metsch,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2025
-
Jude uses that and other topical references to set the action in the tumultuous present, although the guilt Orsolya faces could happen at any moment in history.—
Jordan Mintzer,
The Hollywood Reporter,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
But Miss Manners acknowledges that there is also the less blameworthy impulse to offer comfort — not just sympathy — when there is no real comfort to be offered.—
Judith Martin,
The Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2025
-
But even more blameworthy has been the president’s assault on U.S. institutions, which began long before the novel coronavirus appeared and will be felt long after it is gone.—
Daron Acemoglu,
Foreign Affairs,
23 Mar. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Culpability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culpability. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share