culpable

[kuhl-puh-buhl] / ˈkʌl pə bəl /

ADJECTIVE

responsible for action

Synonyms

STRONGEST

guilty impeachable liable reprehensible responsible

WEAK

amiss answerable at fault blamable blameful blameworthy caught caught in the act caught red-handed censurable demeritorious dirty found wanting hung up in the wrong indictable off base out of line punishable sinful smoking gun to blame unholy wrong

Antonyms

STRONGEST

immune irresponsible

WEAK

blameless inculpable innocent not guilty right

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

After all, hadn’t he been sure that the four boys falsely accused of the crime—two of whom served more than nine years in prison for it—had been culpable, too?

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

Roland found Eastman culpable of 10 of 11 counts of misconduct.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

If found culpable, he could be suspended from the practice of law or disbarred in D.C.

From Slate • Mar. 11, 2026

A 15-year-old boy, who could not be named for legal reasons, admitted culpable homicide in 2024.

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2026

Still, both of these young people were culpable and must look to themselves now, examine their souls, consider this a matter of conscience.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson

Vocabulary lists containing culpable

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