CULPABILITIES Synonyms: 58 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

culpability 1 of 2

noun

ˌkəl-pə-ˈbi-lə-tē

Definition of culpability next

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

culpable

2 of 2

adjective

ˈkəl-pə-bəl

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

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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

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Recent Examples of culpability

Noun

Each company filed responses to Castillo’s lawsuit denying culpability for the accident. —

Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026 Based on a true story, Erin Brockovich follows the titular law firm worker who stumbles upon records involving the Pacific Gas & Electric Company's culpability in a contamination incident. —

Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026

Adjective

In those initial filings, the attorneys identified Jennifer McCabe and Brian Albert as those culpable. —

Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 16 Apr. 2026 Roland found Eastman culpable of 10 of 11 counts of misconduct. —

Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for culpability

Recent Examples of Synonyms for culpability

Noun

Most accounts of the era blame greed—a new ethic of cupidity that displaced whatever youthful idealism remained from the 1960s.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 May 2026
Silina cast blame on Defense Minister Andris Spruds and fired him on Sunday.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 15 May 2026