guiltyadjective
uk/ˈɡɪl.ti/us/ˈɡɪl.ti/guilty adjective (FEELING)
B1 feeling guilt:
I feel so guilty about forgetting her birthday.
She must have done something wrong, because she's looking so guilty.
You've got a guilty conscience - that's why you can't sleep.
More examples
- Don't make me feel guilty.
- I feel guilty about leaving you here all on your own.
- I was feeling a bit guilty about having shouted at her.
- You have a guilty look on your face.
- The look of reproach on his face made her feel guilty.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Sadness and regret
- a heavy heart idiom
- be/weigh on your conscience idiom
- bitter
- bring a lump to/have a lump in your throat idiom
- broken-hearted
- gloom
- gloomy
- guilt
- guilt complex
- guilt trip
- guilt-ridden
- guilt trip
- lament
- mourn
- repent
- rue
- rue the day idiom
- rueful
- sackcloth
- sad
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guilty adjective (RESPONSIBLE)
B2 responsible for breaking a law:
The jury has to decide whether a person is guilty or innocent of a crime.
A person accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The defendent pleaded guilty (= they formally admitted their guilt in court) to the charge of manslaughter.
Compare
innocent adjective
the guilty party
the person who has done something wrong or who has committed a crime
More examples
- The tobacco companies may be guilty of contempt of court for refusing to produce the documents.
- Without corroboration from forensic tests, it will be difficult to prove that the suspect is guilty.
- He was found guilty of defrauding the Internal Revenue Service.
- If found guilty, he faces six months in jail and a heavy fine.
- He would be found guilty under a strict interpretation of the law.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Innocent
- acquit
- acquittal
- be above/beyond reproach idiom
- be in the clear idiom
- beat
- beat the rap idiom
- clear
- come up/out smelling of roses idiom
- culpable
- exculpate
- exonerate
- guiltless
- innocent
- reproach
- responsibility
- responsible
- sin 1
- smell
- squeaky-clean
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Obeying & breaking the law
guiltily
adverb uk/ˈɡɪl.təl.i/us/ˈɡɪl.təl.i/
"I don't know where your money is!" she exclaimed guiltily.
guiltiness
noun [ U ] uk/ˈɡɪl.ti.nəs/us/ˈɡɪl.ti.nəs/