Guilt: meaning, definitions and examples

Guilt is an emotional state that arises when someone feels they have done something wrong or failed in some way. It is often used in personal and psychological contexts.

• She felt a deep sense of guilt after lying to her friend.
• The child's guilt was evident when he admitted to breaking the vase.

Blame is assigning responsibility for a fault or wrong. It often has a negative connotation and is used when someone is held accountable for a mistake or wrongdoing.

• The manager placed the blame on the team for the failed project.
• He tried to blame his sister for the mess in the kitchen.

Responsibility is the state of being accountable for something. It is often used in a broader, more neutral context to describe duties and roles, without the negative implication of wrongdoing.

• He took full responsibility for organizing the event.
• Parents have a responsibility to care for their children.

Culpability refers to the degree of responsibility someone has for a wrongdoing. It is often used in legal or formal contexts to determine how guilty someone is.

• The court will determine the level of the defendant's culpability in the crime.
• Her culpability in the company's financial mismanagement was undeniable.

This word is often used to describe the feeling someone has when they believe they have done something wrong or committed a transgression. It is also used in legal contexts to describe the state of being responsible for a criminal action.

• She felt a deep guilt after lying to her friend.
• The jury found the defendant guilty of all charges.

This word is similar to guilt but stronger, indicating a deep and painful sense of regret for wrongdoing. It often implies a desire to make things right or seek forgiveness.

• She showed genuine remorse for her actions.
• After the incident, he was filled with remorse and sought to apologize.

This word is used when someone feels sad or disappointed about something they did or did not do. It focuses more on wishing the past could be changed.

• He expressed regret about not attending the reunion.
• I regret not spending more time with my family.

This word describes the feeling of humiliation or distress that comes from being aware of one's actions being judged negatively by others or oneself. It often has a social aspect, where the person's actions are seen as disgraceful.

• He felt a deep sense of shame after cheating on the exam.
• The public scandal brought shame to the entire family.

Used when talking about the feeling one has after doing something wrong. It is a personal emotion that someone feels internally when they believe they have done something they shouldn't have.

• She felt a deep sense of guilt after lying to her friend.
• His guilt was evident in his eyes after he accidentally broke the vase.

This word is used to describe a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior. It can also refer to an action that causes this feeling.

• She felt a deep sense of shame after her mistake was revealed to everyone.
• It's a shame that the project was canceled after so much work was put into it.

Used when assigning responsibility for a fault or wrong. It is often used to point out who is at fault for something negative.

• They blamed the weather for the delay in the game.
• You can't blame him for the accident; it wasn't his fault.

This is used when one person or entity claims another person or entity has done something wrong or illegal.

• The teacher accused the student of cheating on the exam.
• He was accused of stealing money from the company.