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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of guilty

The character was slated to be the new villain of the latest Phase of the franchise; however, Majors was fired by Marvel parent company Walt Disney Co. after being found guilty of assault and harassment against his (now) ex-girlfriend in December 2023. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 10 Feb. 2025

Two men were sentenced to decades in prison after they were found guilty of drugging, raping and murdering a 24-year-old father in Scotland. —Liam Quinn, People.com, 10 Feb. 2025

The second of two defendants charged with taking parts of the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial in Denver’s City Park pleaded guilty and was sentenced Friday to jail and three years’ probation. —Max Levy, The Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2025

Ethan previously pleaded guilty to all of the charges against him, including murder and terrorism. —Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2025