Word: culpable

Associations

The word "culpable" means being responsible for a wrongdoing or being guilty. It is often used in legal contexts to describe someone who has committed a crime or a fault.

• Example 1: "The jury found him culpable of theft." This means the jury decided he was guilty of stealing.
• Example 2: "In a tragic accident, the driver was deemed culpable for not following traffic laws." Here, it indicates that the driver was responsible for causing the accident.
• Example 3: "She felt culpable for not helping her friend during a difficult time." This suggests she felt guilty for not being there for her friend.

A well-known synonym for "culpable" is "blameworthy." The main difference is that "blameworthy" emphasizes being deserving of blame, while "culpable" stresses legal or moral responsibility for a wrong deed.

Substitution

In place of "culpable," you could use:

• "guilty": This is often used in a legal context and focuses specifically on having committed a crime.
• "at fault": This phrase is more general and might refer to being responsible for a mistake or problem, not just a crime.
• "accountable": This implies being responsible for something, but it can also refer to the necessity of explaining actions.

Deconstruction

The root of "culpable" comes from the Latin word "culpabilis," which means "blameworthy."

• The prefix "culpa" means guilt or fault in Latin.
• The suffix "-able" means capable of or worthy of. This word's components suggest the idea of being capable of being blamed.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a situation where someone was found culpable for their actions? What happened?
• Have you ever felt culpable for something that you did or didn’t do? How did it make you feel?
• In what contexts can the word "culpable" be used outside of legal situations?