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
David Brennan, ABC News, 29 Dec. 2024
In the past, researchers have pinned culpability on the rapidly warming climate, arguing that Pleistocene beasts were unable to adapt as the world climbed out of an ice age.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Dec. 2024
Jesse Green, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
The geopolitical consequences are profound, especially as a new president prepares to take office: If Russia, or any other country, were found culpable for violent attacks on U.S. government personnel, Washington would likely feel compelled to forcefully respond.
—Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for culpability 
Noun
According to a Kremlin readout, Putin apologized for the incident without explicitly admitting culpability.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 29 Dec. 2024
In the past, researchers have pinned culpability on the rapidly warming climate, arguing that Pleistocene beasts were unable to adapt as the world climbed out of an ice age.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
To be white is to be the exception here and, in a way, to be culpable.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
The geopolitical consequences are profound, especially as a new president prepares to take office: If Russia, or any other country, were found culpable for violent attacks on U.S. government personnel, Washington would likely feel compelled to forcefully respond.
—Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for culpability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culpability
Noun
-
Read the full Libra Daily Horoscope Scorpio (October 23 - November 21) Back to playing the blame game?—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
10 Feb. 2025
-
Tang deserves some of the blame for what happened early.—
CJ Moore,
The Athletic,
8 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Bannon agreed to plead guilty in the case in exchange for avoiding prison time.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
-
Papadopoulos was the first to plead guilty in the probe and the first to be sentenced.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Meta, which has committed to achieving carbon neutrality in its operations, is already working to assuage the guilt of relying on carbon dioxide emitting natural gas to run Sucré.—
Christopher Helman,
Forbes,
8 Feb. 2025
-
The Åre Murders, which premiered globally on Netflix with five episodes, begins with the promise of a simple murder mystery but evolves into a study of the choices and consequences faced by characters who are all, at their core, driven by secrets and guilt.—
Isadora Wandermurem,
TIME,
7 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
Thesaurus Entries Near culpability
Cite this Entry
“Culpability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culpability. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share