guilt-trip

1 of 2

verb

ˈgil(t)-ˌtrip 

guilt-tripped; guilt-tripping; guilt-trips

transitive verb

: 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

guilt trip

2 of 2

noun

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.

Examples of guilt-trip in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Most language apps bore me to death, constantly repeat themselves, or guilt-trip me with aggressive notifications (looking at you, Mr. Green Owl). —New Atlas, 3 Mar. 2025

Loneliness: An aging parent may guilt-trip or create drama as a way to get attention. —Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024

The company focused on making a better product for people and the planet rather than guilt-tripping consumers into eco-conscious choices. —Angeley Mullins, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

That’s crystal clear to me, at least: Both sides not only committed violent atrocities but also guilt-tripped the world. —Amir Sommer, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2024

Related Articles That’s crystal clear to me, at least: Both sides not only committed violent atrocities but also guilt-tripped the world. —Amir Sommer, The Mercury News, 11 Jan. 2024

Reflecting on his experience in a college term paper, Westerveld pointed out the hypocrisy of guilt-tripping guests about towels while the hotel was hastily building more bungalows. —TIME, 13 Oct. 2023

Doing favors for others probably won't successfully guilt-trip them into seeing things your way! —Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2023

Paul says Stella’s strategy of offering people better, ethical alternatives—rather than guilt-tripping them—was inspired by her mother, who launched a successful vegetarian-food business. —Time, 9 Aug. 2023

Noun

Movies For Subscribers The 27 best movie theaters in Los Angeles Nov. 22, 2023 Beckett was known to have had a tense relationship with his demanding and disapproving Protestant mother, May (Lisa Dwyer Hogg), the first stop on the feted author’s guilt trip. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2024

The fan responded back, essentially attempting to guilt trip Cardi. —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 3 July 2024

End of carousel Your parents’ guilt trip isn’t even about you. —Sahaj Kaur Kohli, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024

Undergoing a guilt trip could suck the joy out of your efforts. —Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 13 Feb. 2024

And please spare me your class-warfare guilt trips. —David Harsanyi, National Review, 25 Jan. 2024

But there’s no need for the guilt trip, says Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer. —Steve Mollman, Fortune, 6 July 2023

Sebastian is reluctant to leave his father alone for the holiday, especially since Salvo spares no opportunity to guilt trip him about it. —Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 May 2023

At the center of this storm of terrors is a phone call from Mom, issuing expert long-distance guilt trips in the offscreen voice of Broadway veteran Patti LuPone. —A.a. Dowd, Chron, 20 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1974, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1970, in the meaning defined above