guilt-tripped; guilt-tripping; guilt-trips
: to cause feelings of guilt in (someone) : to try to manipulate the behavior of (someone) by causing feelings of guilt : guilt
How often have we been guilt-tripped into giving people generic birthday greetings on their walls even if they are just casual acquaintances?—Michael Grothaus
guilt-tripping
noun
Americans may be susceptible to moral and religious guilt-tripping, but they don't want a theocracy.
—Ellen Willis
plural guilt trips
: an instance of feeling guilty : a feeling of guilt or blame caused especially by another person's comment or accusation
give someone a guilt trip [=make someone feel guilty]
"You haven't talked to her in weeks, Mona." "Thanks for the guilt trip."—Armistead Maupin
"My waiter asked 'Now, do we want straws OR do we want to save the turtles?' and honestly we all deserve that environmental guilt trip"…—Rebekah White
I cheated in school—and I cheated myself … I knew it was wrong. I was already on a serious guilt trip.—Art Schlichter et al.
Cite this Entry
“Guilt-trip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guilt-trip. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.
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