guiltier; guiltiest
1
: justly chargeable with or responsible for a usually grave breach of conduct or a crime
Does the defendant plead guilty or not guilty?
2
a
: suggesting or involving guilt
The children exchanged guilty looks.
b
: aware of or suffering from guilt
guilty consciences
3
obsolete : justly liable to or deserving of a penalty
guiltily adverb
guiltiness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for guilty

blameworthy, blamable, guilty, culpable mean deserving reproach or punishment.

blameworthy and blamable apply to any degree of reprehensibility.

conduct adjudged blameworthy
an accident for which no one is blamable

guilty implies responsibility for or consciousness of crime, sin, or, at the least, grave error or misdoing.

guilty of a breach of etiquette

culpable is weaker than guilty and is likely to connote malfeasance or errors of ignorance, omission, or negligence.

culpable neglect

Examples of guilty in a Sentence

Do you think he's innocent or guilty? Will the defendant plead guilty or not guilty? The children exchanged guilty looks. He was acting like someone with a guilty conscience. There's no need to feel guilty about it.
Recent Examples on the Web Jeremy Pauley, 42, of Thompson, pleaded guilty to the charge on Jan. 8, 2023, according to court documents, Fox 43 reports. Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 The 38-year-old son of Chiefs head coach Andy Reid pleaded guilty to a single felony offense in the Feb. 4, 2021 crash. Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2024 Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty to all charges against him and has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 5 Mar. 2024 Quan pleaded guilty to both counts in April 2023, according to a news release from federal prosecutors. Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Anderson, who has pleaded guilty to related charges of wire fraud and fraudulent use of identification, testified that Martin dismembered the victim’s corpse in the bathtub, before the pair disposed the body parts in Canarsie Park on April 8 and 9, 2018. Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2024 Bell, who rose to fame as a child star with his roles on Nickelodeon series like The Amanda Show and Drake & Josh, made headlines in 2021 after pleading guilty to child endangerment. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Mar. 2024 Weisselberg went to jail last year after pleading guilty to evading taxes on $1.7 million in off-the-books compensation from the Trump Organization. Jake Offenhartz, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024 Despite initially denying the allegations against him, in January 2022, BBC News reported that Hardy pleaded guilty to five counts of stalking involving fear of violence. Jessica Sager, Peoplemag, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'guilty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see guilt entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of guilty was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near guilty

Cite this Entry

“Guilty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guilty. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

guilty

adjective
guiltier; guiltiest
1
: having done wrong
2
a
: suggesting or involving guilt
a guilty manner
b
: aware of or suffering from guilt
a guilty conscience
guiltily adverb
guiltiness noun

Legal Definition

guilty

1 of 2 adjective
guiltier; guiltiest
1
: having committed a crime : justly charged with a specified crime
guilty of larceny
2
: involving guilt or culpability
guilty knowledge

guilty

2 of 2 noun
1
: a plea of a criminal defendant who does not intend to contest the charges
2
: a verdict of a jury that believes the defendant committed the crime charged compare nolo contendere, not guilty, not guilty by reason of insanity

More from Merriam-Webster on guilty

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