CULPABLE Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'culpable' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of culpable are blamable , blameworthy , and guilty . While all these words mean "deserving reproach or punishment," culpable is weaker than guilty and is likely to connote malfeasance or errors of ignorance, omission, or negligence. // culpable neglect

Q: How are the words 'blameworthy' and 'blamable' related as synonyms of 'culpable'?

Both blameworthy and blamable apply to any degree of reprehensibility. // conduct adjudged blameworthy // an accident for which no one is blamable

Q: When could 'guilty' be used to replace 'culpable'?

While in some cases nearly identical to culpable , guilty implies responsibility for or consciousness of crime, sin, or, at the least, grave error or misdoing. // guilty of a breach of etiquette

culpable

adjective

ˈkəl-pə-bəl

Definition of culpable

as in guilty

deserving reproach or blame are you any less culpable for murder if you acted in the heat of passion?

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How is the word culpable different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of culpable are blamable, blameworthy, and guilty. While all these words mean "deserving reproach or punishment," culpable is weaker than guilty and is likely to connote malfeasance or errors of ignorance, omission, or negligence.

culpable neglect

How are the words blameworthy and blamable related as synonyms of culpable?

Both blameworthy and blamable apply to any degree of reprehensibility.

conduct adjudged blameworthy

an accident for which no one is blamable

When could guilty be used to replace culpable?

While in some cases nearly identical to culpable, guilty implies responsibility for or consciousness of crime, sin, or, at the least, grave error or misdoing.

guilty of a breach of etiquette

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 culpable The investigation also found the Clippers culpable in facilitating additional deals for Leonard to gain income from Boingo Wireless, Daktronics and Lockton. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 Sep. 2026 But isn’t the manager culpable when his dugout repeatedly butchers fundamental baserunning and defensive basics? — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026 Yes, every life includes some unique and untold combination of experiences for which other people are morally culpable. — Thomas Lake, AJC.com, 4 June 2026 The Delhi Police registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against unknown persons in connection with the fire and an investigation was underway. — Arshad R. Zargar, CBS News, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for culpable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for culpable

Adjective

He was released on a $175,000 bond April 20 and pleaded not guilty to the charges June 22.

— Steven Mross, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
Farwell has pleaded not guilty to charges of killing a witness or victim and failure to protect an unborn child.

— Mark Osborne, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of guilty

Adjective

Taken by themselves, shame and awe are neither laudable nor blameworthy.

— Robert A. Ballingall, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2026
Extreme cold made the O-rings fail, but NASA’s culture was just as blameworthy and needed a retrofit more urgently than any piece of shuttle hardware.

— Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 28 Jan. 2026

Definition of blameworthy

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“Culpable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culpable. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of culpable

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