guilt

guilt

noun

Definition of GUILT

1

a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing <he was wracked with guilt after he accidentally broke his sister's antique grandfather clock>

Synonyms contriteness, contrition, penitence, regret, remorse, remorsefulness, repentance, rue, self-reproach, shame

Related Words compunction, misgiving, prick, qualm, scruple; blame, culpability, fault; liability, rap, responsibility; chagrin, embarrassment; anguish, distress, grief, ruth, sadness, sorrow; bloodguilt, bloodguiltiness; apology, excuses, hand-wringing, mea culpa

Antonyms impenitence, remorselessness

2

responsibility for wrongdoing or failure <the chief financial officer was saddled with the guilt for the company's failure>

Synonyms culpability, fault, guilt, onus, rap

Related Words blameworthiness, complicity, guiltiness, sinfulness; accusation, censure, condemnation, denunciation, finger-pointing, reproach; regret, remorse, self-reproach, shame

Antonyms blamelessness, faultlessness, guiltlessness, innocence