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

Since then, he's had no shortage of controversies that have rattled Republican leadership, including a history of posting racist memes on social media and pleading guilty to operating a vehicle while intoxicated and leaving the crash scene. —Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Nov. 2024

Boeing in July agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud for deceiving regulators who approved the 737 Max. —Kate Gibson, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024

Former Columbus, Ohio, police officer Adam Coy was found guilty of murder on Monday in the shooting death of Andre Hill, an unarmed Black man. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

Diddy pleaded not guilty and his attorney, Marc Agnifilo, has maintained his client’s innocence. —Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2024