CULPRITS Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

culprits

noun

plural of culprit

as in offenders

a person who has committed a crime the police caught the culprit a mere two blocks from the scene of the crime

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of culprits Over the years, culprits have ranged from El Niño and climate change to the World Trade Organization, rock ‘n’ roll music and the fluoridation of water. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Steven Tian and Stephen Henriques, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026 Dakik flagged artificial sweeteners and excess caffeine as culprits. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026 The culprits smashed a display case before taking the necklace and fleeing the scene. — News Desk, Artforum, 28 Aug. 2026 Perhaps the biggest culprits in kitchen cabinetry are common stock items, such as cleaning supplies and trash bags. — Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 26 Aug. 2026 When Estrada finally landed one of the culprits, the 18-inch round, silver fish had a massive set of gnarly chompers. — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 26 Aug. 2026 The most common culprits for grout stains are spills, cleaning residue, and mold/mildew buildup. — Abid Haque, Architectural Digest, 20 Aug. 2026 Turnbull found the two biggest culprits are equipment issues and weather. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026 Declutter by addressing culprits like unused kitchen gadgets, tangled cords, and outdated electronics to free up space. — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for culprits

Noun

Hisbah members also face widespread allegations of rights abuses in their enforcement operations, including subjecting offenders to dehumanizing punishments such as public beatings or shaming.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Its recent report says organized crime groups are increasingly involved in cultural-property theft, with offenders using tools like explosives and firearms.

— George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of offenders

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culprit

culprits

cult

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“Culprits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culprits. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of culprits

noun

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