Blameworthy: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'blameworthy' to describe someone or something deserving of blame because they did something wrong or inappropriate. It is a formal term often employed in serious contexts.

• The committee found the company's actions to be blameworthy in the scandal.
• Her neglect of duty was considered blameworthy by her supervisors.

Use 'culpable' to describe someone or something that is responsible for a fault or wrong. It tends to be used in legal or formal contexts when determining responsibility.

• The driver was found culpable for the accident due to negligence.
• The company's disregard for safety regulations made them culpable in the eyes of the law.

Use 'guilty' to describe someone who has committed a crime or wrongdoing, often after a legal decision. It can also be used more informally to describe feelings of having done something wrong.

• He was found guilty of theft and sentenced to five years in prison.
• She felt guilty about lying to her friend.

Use 'responsible' when talking about someone who has a duty to take care of something or whose actions caused something to happen. It can refer to both positive and negative contexts but is generally neutral.

• She is responsible for managing the entire project.
• The manager is responsible for the team's poor performance.

This word is appropriate when describing actions or behavior that deserve fault or responsibility for something wrong, without too harsh a judgment.

• His actions were blamed for the failure of the project.
• Leaving the door unlocked was blameworthy, given the recent break-ins.

This word is best used for actions that are very bad or morally unacceptable. It carries a heavier negative connotation.

• The company's treatment of its employees was reprehensible.
• Leaving a dog in a hot car is a reprehensible act.

This word is suitable for actions that deserve strong disapproval or criticism. It often implies a moral or ethical judgment.

• Animal cruelty is a condemnable act.
• The politician's corrupt practices are utterly condemnable.

Use this word to describe something unpleasant and offensive that causes strong opposition or disapproval, without necessarily implying moral blame.

• His conduct during the meeting was highly objectionable.
• The language used in the advertisement was objectionable to many viewers.