What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
guilty
Example
He felt guilty for lying to his friend. [guilty: adjective]
Example
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges. [guilty: adjective]
Example
The jury found him guilty of theft. [guilty: adjective]
culpable
Example
The company was deemed culpable for the environmental damage. [culpable: adjective]
Example
The investigation revealed that he was culpable for the accident. [culpable: adjective]
Example
She refused to admit that she was culpable for the mistake. [culpable: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Guilty is more common and versatile in everyday language, while culpable is less common and more formal, often used in legal or academic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between guilty and culpable?
Culpable is more formal and less common than guilty, often used in legal or academic contexts to describe liability or responsibility. Guilty is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts to describe the feeling of remorse or the verdict of a crime.
