guilt
What wrongdoers feel
Guilt is the state of having committed a wrong or offense—a jury determines guilt or innocence.
More commonly, guilt names the uncomfortable feeling that accompanies having done something wrong: The guilt was eating at him.
Guilt can linger even without clear wrongdoing, as in survivor's guilt.
To guilt someone is to make them feel guilty, often as manipulation: She guilted me into going.
Guilt for wrongdoing
- regretSorrow over past actions
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- self-reproachBlaming oneself for wrongdoing
anguish · torment · gnawing · nagging · pangs · conscience · haunted · self-blame
Violation of divine law
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- wrongdoingUnethical or illegal action
- conscienceInternal moral sense
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
atonement · repentance · redemption · absolution · forgiveness · penance · amends · reconciliation
Firmly held belief
- verdictOfficial court decision
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- defendantParty facing charges
plea · acquittal · testimony · evidence · jury · arraignment · sentence · attorney
Claim someone did wrong
- faultImperfection or blame
- incriminateShow involvement in wrongdoing
- implicateSuggest involvement in wrongdoing
- reproachExpression of disappointment
condemn · finger-pointing · scapegoat · responsibility · answerable · culprit · complicit · accountability
Loss of dignity
- disgraceLoss of honor
- stigmaMark of dishonor
- dishonorLoss of respect
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
worthlessness · mortification · self-loathing · indignity · degradation · scandal · disrepute · ostracism
Measure of heaviness
- heavyOf great mass
- oppressiveUnjustly harsh or stifling
- crushingOverwhelming in intensity
- overwhelmingIntensely excessive in force
baggage · albatross · yoke · carry · laden · encumbrance · inescapable · lingering
remorse
Guilt for wrongdoing
- regretSorrow over past actions
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
self-reproach · anguish · torment · gnawing · nagging · pangs · conscience · haunted · self-blame · self-punishment
sin
Violation of divine law
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- wrongdoingUnethical or illegal action
- conscienceInternal moral sense
ethics · atonement · repentance · redemption · absolution · forgiveness · penance · amends · reconciliation · penitence
conviction
Firmly held belief
- verdictOfficial court decision
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
defendant · plea · acquittal · testimony · evidence · jury · arraignment · sentence · attorney · witness
accusation
Claim someone did wrong
- faultImperfection or blame
- incriminateShow involvement in wrongdoing
- implicateSuggest involvement in wrongdoing
reproach · condemn · finger-pointing · scapegoat · responsibility · answerable · culprit · complicit · accountability · indict
humiliation
Loss of dignity
embarrassment · worthlessness · mortification · self-loathing · indignity · degradation · scandal · disrepute · ostracism · exposure
weight
Measure of heaviness
- heavyOf great mass
- oppressiveUnjustly harsh or stifling
- crushingOverwhelming in intensity
overwhelming · baggage · albatross · yoke · carry · laden · encumbrance · inescapable · lingering · unresolved
guiltinnocence
Freedom from wrongdoing
not guilty · acquittal · exoneration · guiltlessness · blamelessness
guiltinnocence
Freedom from wrongdoing
clear conscience · remorselessness · pride · peace of mind · self-forgiveness
guiltinnocence
Freedom from wrongdoing
virtue · purity · righteousness · sinlessness · godliness
- not guiltyCleared of charges
- guilty conscienceSelf-blame for wrongdoing
- guilt tripInducing remorse for leverage
- guilty pleasureEnjoyment tinged with shame
- guilty as chargedAdmission of complete fault
- guilty partyOne held responsible
guilty, guiltless, guilt-ridden, guiltily, guilts, guilted, guilting, beguiled, guilt-trip