culpable

[ kuhl-puh-buhl ]

adjective

1. deserving blame or censure; blameworthy.

   Synonyms: reprehensible

culpable

/ ˈkʌlpəbəl /

adjective

1. deserving censure; blameworthy

Derived Forms

• ˈculpably, adverb
• ˌculpaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• culpa·bili·ty culpa·ble·ness noun
• culpa·bly adverb
• non·culpa·ble adjective
• non·culpa·ble·ness noun
• non·culpa·bly adverb
• un·culpa·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of culpable¹

1275–1325; Middle English < Latin culpābilis, equivalent to culpā ( re ) to hold liable (derivative of culpa blame) + -bilis -ble; replacing Middle English coupable < Middle French < Latin as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of culpable¹

C14: from Old French coupable, from Latin culpābilis, from culpāre to blame, from culpa fault

Example Sentences

How culpable are sites like Facebook, Google, and Apple in aiding potential spying, and the loss of privacy?

From The Daily Beast

Russia should be regarded as culpable if separatists brought down this plane.

From The Daily Beast

I viewed the Zooey character as the colder one, and more culpable.

From The Daily Beast

But looking over decades of celebrity shots provokes a startling revelation: we're culpable too.

From The Daily Beast

Moreover, American political figures who have proudly associated with The Family and with Rick Warren are culpable as well.

From The Daily Beast

More foolish, more culpable weakness was never shown than in thus yielding to these schemes.

From Project Gutenberg

And if justice be not done, they are also culpable;—because of the want of such a power justice is not to be undone.

From Project Gutenberg

A sovereign could not, without a culpable sacrifice of his personal dignity, persist longer in such a contest.

From Project Gutenberg

They relate to the culpable remissness of these Knoxville leaders in failing to volunteer in the cause of the Confederacy.

From Project Gutenberg

The persons really culpable were those who sent them out without a proper staff, and without the smallest foresight.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• guilty
• impeachable
• liable
• reprehensible
• responsible