1
as in remorse
a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing
he was wracked with guilt after he accidentally broke his sister's antique grandfather clock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in blame
responsibility for wrongdoing or failure
the chief financial officer was saddled with the guilt for the company's failure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 guilt
The jury voted on Lawshea’s guilt regarding only one victim, who was 13, but heard testimony from her and three other victims.
—
Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
There is no time for mom guilt.
—Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026
Parents say they are left with lasting pain and guilt tied to what their children experienced.
—Nicole Nielsen, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt.
—Dennis Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for guilt
Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
There is no time for mom guilt.
—Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026
Parents say they are left with lasting pain and guilt tied to what their children experienced.
—Nicole Nielsen, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt.
—Dennis Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for guilt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guilt
Noun
-
Last month, Judge Sarah Willis granted a defense motion to allow for a lesser sentence, which was based on Desouza’s showing of remorse, young age, history of childhood trauma, and psychiatric issues.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Yet an outstanding cast, scripts that are perceptive about grief and remorse, and Hennie’s impressionistic directing more than make up for it.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
When a team has a losing or mediocre season over several seasons shouldn’t the coach take some of the blame.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Hopes for a quick resolution to the Homeland Security spending bill dimmed Thursday as negotiations devolved into a blame game among Republicans and Democrats over who should be talking to whom.—
Lisa Hagen,
Hartford Courant,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
It’s regarded as his greatest song ever, containing his favorite themes of violence, mortality, regret, and above all, loneliness, against the backdrop of the American wilderness.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
13 Feb. 2026
-
But that's definitely my big regret.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But the gulf between public opinion and civil culpability is vast, attorneys for the platforms say.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The clash over Wexner’s naming rights has emerged as a proxy PR war running parallel to the ongoing legal fight over Ohio State’s culpability for Strauss’ abuse—with the first of those cases scheduled to go to trial this fall.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Pair it with their signature warm nuts drenched in Tap Roots’ homemade spicy maple syrup, which is destined to put the hot honey craze to shame once word gets out.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Feb. 2026
-
With the Presidents Day Weekend sales ushering in an abundance of deals on some of Amazon’s best loungewear sets, now’s the time to stock up on easy two-piece outfits that’ll put your current favorites to shame.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Guilt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guilt. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
