guilt-ridden
Haunted by wrongdoing
Guilt-ridden describes someone overwhelmed by guilt, unable to shake feelings of remorse or self-blame: She was guilt-ridden about missing her father's last days.
The compound suggests guilt that pervades rather than visits—a persistent state rather than a passing emotion.
Guilt for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- regretSorrow over past actions
- compunctionUneasiness from guilt
pangs · scruples · inner conflict · self-reproach · self-blame · self-condemnation · moral weight · qualms
Feeling guilt over misdeeds
- repentantFeeling sorrow for misdeeds
- apologeticExpressing regret for wrongdoing
- sorrowfulFilled with grief
- confessionAdmission of wrongdoing
atonement · penance · expiation · mea culpa · absolution · forgiveness · redemption · reparation
Made heavy by burden
- heavy-heartedEmotionally weighed down
- overwhelmedDefeated by sheer volume
- oppressedTreated with cruel control
- ladenHeavily weighted down
tormented · plagued · troubled · beset · afflicted · encumbered · saddled · bogged down
Subjected to severe distress
- sufferingSustained experience of distress
- agonizedSuffered extreme distress
- distressedSuffering emotional turmoil
- wretchedExtremely unhappy or unfortunate
miserable · despairing · heartbroken · grief-stricken · woeful · aching · pained · wounded
Showing visible embarrassment
- mortifiedIntensely embarrassed
- humiliatedMade to feel worthless
- chagrinedDistressed by disappointment
- embarrassedSelf-consciously uncomfortable
disgraced · rueful · sheepish · red-faced · abashed · self-conscious · degraded · dishonored
remorse
Guilt for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- regretSorrow over past actions
compunction · pangs · scruples · inner conflict · self-reproach · self-blame · self-condemnation · moral weight · qualms · misgivings
contrite
Feeling guilt over misdeeds
- repentantFeeling sorrow for misdeeds
- apologeticExpressing regret for wrongdoing
- sorrowfulFilled with grief
confession · atonement · penance · expiation · mea culpa · absolution · forgiveness · redemption · reparation · amends
weighed down
Made heavy by burden
- heavy-heartedEmotionally weighed down
- overwhelmedDefeated by sheer volume
- oppressedTreated with cruel control
laden · tormented · plagued · troubled · beset · afflicted · encumbered · saddled · bogged down · hampered
tormented
Subjected to severe distress
- sufferingSustained experience of distress
- agonizedSuffered extreme distress
- distressedSuffering emotional turmoil
wretched · miserable · despairing · heartbroken · grief-stricken · woeful · aching · pained · wounded · distraught
shamefaced
Showing visible embarrassment
- mortifiedIntensely embarrassed
- humiliatedMade to feel worthless
- chagrinedDistressed by disappointment
embarrassed · disgraced · rueful · sheepish · red-faced · abashed · self-conscious · degraded · dishonored · culpable
- apologiessorry, forgive me, my mistake, mea culpa, sincere apology
- burdenedburdened, laden, loaded, weighed down, overburdened
guilt-riddenguilt-free
Without remorse or shame
guiltless · remorseless · unrepentant · shameless · unapologetic
guilt-riddeninnocent
Free from moral wrong
blameless · faultless · self-righteous · clean-handed · vindicated
guilt-riddencarefree
Free from anxiety
untroubled · lighthearted · free-spirited · unbothered · serene
guilt, guilty, guild, ridden, gild, guiltless, guilts, guilting, guiltiness