Synonyms of guilty

guilty

adjective

ˈgil-tē 

as in ashamed

suffering from or expressive of a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing

she was burdened with a guilty conscience after ignoring the stranger's request for help

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ashamed
• embarrassed
• apologetic
• sorry
• shamefaced
• shamed
• remorseful
• blushing
• repentant
• regretful
• culpable
• contrite
• penitent
• sheepish
• blameworthy
• penitential
• rueful
• compunctious
• blamable
• chagrined
• hangdog

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shameless
• unashamed
• unrepentant
• remorseless
• brazen
• impudent
• innocent
• blameless
• cheeky
• unapologetic
• impenitent
• guiltless

Synonym Chooser

How is the word guilty different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of guilty are blamable, blameworthy, and culpable. While all these words mean "deserving reproach or punishment," guilty implies responsibility for or consciousness of crime, sin, or, at the least, grave error or misdoing.

guilty of a breach of etiquette

How are the words blameworthy and blamable related as synonyms of guilty?

Both blameworthy and blamable apply to any degree of reprehensibility.

conduct adjudged blameworthy

an accident for which no one is blamable

When could culpable be used to replace guilty?

The words culpable and guilty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, culpable is weaker than guilty and is likely to connote malfeasance or errors of ignorance, omission, or negligence.

culpable neglect

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of guilty

California Canadian citizen pleads guilty after illegally voting in Orange County in 2016 Nov. 5, 2024 Boyer is facing four felony counts of perjury in connection to the voter registration forms. —Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024

Trial of Ricard Allen for the Delphi murders A heartbreaking story that garnered national attention and spanned more than seven years finally came to a conclusion in 2024 when a jury found Delphi's Richard Allen guilty on all counts in the murders of Liberty German and Abigail Williams. —Joe Mutascio, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Dec. 2024

Penny pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and negligent homicide charges. —Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 6 Dec. 2024

Last year, the 35-year-old was found guilty in criminal court of assault and harassment relating to an incident with Jabbari. —Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 22 Nov. 2024