Synonym Chooser

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 police department established its own task force to investigate the takeover and track down the individuals who were most culpable. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2025 One sign of the production’s Brechtian nature is the way the structural forces at work in society are revealed to be more culpable than any individual character. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025 The majority sees no problem in executing someone whose co-defendant might have been more culpable but was smart enough to cop a deal to elude the death penalty. Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 June 2025 Extensive testing showed no genetic or environmental cause for her son’s condition, yet Hess felt somehow culpable. Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for culpable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culpable
Adjective
  • At the time, Scott pleaded guilty to one count of animal crushing, which refers to extreme and intentional acts of torture inflicted upon animals, often for the purpose of creating shock films.
    Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 30 July 2025
  • Ghaly pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and was sentenced in November to 230 days in jail, plus probation.
    City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 July 2025
Adjective
  • His Stoic Challenge framework invites you to see a setback not as something terrible, blameworthy or unfair but instead as a test of your ingenuity and resilience.
    Hanna Hart, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Culpable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culpable. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on culpable

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