guilt
the fact or state of having committed an offense, crime, violation, or wrong, especially against moral or penal law; culpability: He admitted his guilt.
a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined.
conduct involving the commission of such crimes, wrongs, etc.: to live a life of guilt.
to cause to feel guilty (often followed by out or into): She totally guilted me out, dude. He guilted me into picking up the tab.: See also guilt-trip.
Origin of guilt
1Other words for guilt
Opposites for guilt
Other words from guilt
- non·guilt, noun
- pre·guilt, noun
Words that may be confused with guilt
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use guilt in a sentence
Most of Nesbo’s characters are wracked with guilt — for good reason.
Jo Nesbo’s ‘The Kingdom’ is a suspenseful bundle of Norwegian noir that’s almost impossible to put down | Richard Lipez | November 9, 2020 | Washington PostIt took two days to get Jacob back to preschool, causing her anxiety about his health and guilt over neglecting work.
Families and daycares struggle to navigate COVID rules with germy kids | Rachel Schallom | November 2, 2020 | FortuneThe culture of guilt and shame around these services weighs most heavily on providers, who want to provide a safe atmosphere as well as stay in business.
In typical criminal proceedings, you accept a punishment of guilt, but you don’t have to do any public acknowledgement of what you did and frequently no apology for what you did.
What the public is getting right — and wrong — about police abolition | Fabiola Cineas | October 30, 2020 | VoxTrauma survivors also have a lot of shame and guilt and self-blame.
How Are Psychedelics and Other Party Drugs Changing Psychiatry? (Ep. 433) | Stephen J. Dubner | October 1, 2020 | Freakonomics
In refusing to be guilted by anyone, Naheed freed up her energy to serve other women who want to exercise their agency.
British Dictionary definitions for guilt
/ (ɡɪlt) /
the fact or state of having done wrong or committed an offence
responsibility for a criminal or moral offence deserving punishment or a penalty
remorse or self-reproach caused by feeling that one is responsible for a wrong or offence
archaic sin or crime
Origin of guilt
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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