as in offender
a person who has committed a crime
the police caught the culprit a mere two blocks from the scene of the crime
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Recent Examples of culprit
This specific blend helps reduce oxidative stress and chronic low-grade inflammation, two primary culprits behind blood vessel damage.
—
Lauren Manaker, SELF, 2 Apr. 2026
Curtains can collect dust over time, and could be a culprit behind your middle-of-the-night allergies.
—Lori Keong, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026
More common culprits include a high-salt diet, eczema, allergies and sleep position.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026
At the time, the culprit was viewed as Russia's invasion of Ukraine earlier that year, combined with low inventories and rising demand in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Todd Spangler, Freep.com, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for culprit
Lauren Manaker, SELF, 2 Apr. 2026
Curtains can collect dust over time, and could be a culprit behind your middle-of-the-night allergies.
—Lori Keong, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026
More common culprits include a high-salt diet, eczema, allergies and sleep position.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026
At the time, the culprit was viewed as Russia's invasion of Ukraine earlier that year, combined with low inventories and rising demand in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Todd Spangler, Freep.com, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for culprit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culprit
Noun
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Anyone can see how many cases are filed, how much attorneys collect, and who the worst offenders are.—
Tom Manzo,
Oc Register,
6 Apr. 2026
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Punish the worst offenders by requiring them to apologize, publicly, for missing the mark.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Göring, played by Russell Crowe, is the troubling centerpiece of James Vanderbilt’s ambitious film devoted to the trial of the major Nazi war criminals at Nuremberg in 1945–1946.—
Alice Kaplan,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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Also included is a 13% increase in funding for the Department of Justice to focus on violent criminals and a $481 million increase in funding to enhance aviation safety and support an air traffic controller hiring surge.—
LISA MASCARO,
Arkansas Online,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Culprit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culprit. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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