guiltily
Like a wrongdoer
Guiltily is the adverb form of guilty—doing something in a way that shows or suggests guilt.
A person who acts guiltily behaves as though they've done something wrong: She glanced guiltily at the empty cookie jar.
The word often describes furtive or shame-faced behavior, whether actual wrongdoing occurred or not.
Facial reddening from emotion
- sheepishEmbarrassed and timid
- abashedEmbarrassed and disconcerted
- embarrassedSelf-consciously uncomfortable
- mortifiedIntensely embarrassed
humiliated · ashamed · disgrace · dishonor · stigma · furtively · evasively · downcast
Moving to avoid detection
- skulkingMoving furtively, covertly
- furtivelyIn a secretive manner
- surreptitiouslyIn a hidden manner
- nervouslyIn an anxious manner
shifty · glancing · stammering · fidgeting · averting · concealing · hiding · whispering
Feeling guilt over misdeeds
- penitentOne showing remorse
- apologeticExpressing regret for wrongdoing
- ruefulExpressing sorrowful repentance
- sorrowfulFilled with grief
repentant · regretful · self-reproach · compunction · pangs · contrition · repentance · atonement
Deserving of censure
- responsibleObligated to answer for actions
- liableLegally responsible for something
- answerableLiable to account
- incriminatedShown involvement in wrongdoing
accused · caught · implicated · complicit · red-handed · wrongdoing · transgression · violation
blush
Facial reddening from emotion
- sheepishEmbarrassed and timid
- abashedEmbarrassed and disconcerted
- embarrassedSelf-consciously uncomfortable
mortified · humiliated · ashamed · disgrace · dishonor · stigma · furtively · evasively · downcast · red-faced
sneaking
Moving to avoid detection
- skulkingMoving furtively, covertly
- furtivelyIn a secretive manner
- surreptitiouslyIn a hidden manner
nervously · shifty · glancing · stammering · fidgeting · averting · concealing · hiding · whispering · tiptoeing
contrite
Feeling guilt over misdeeds
- penitentOne showing remorse
- apologeticExpressing regret for wrongdoing
- ruefulExpressing sorrowful repentance
sorrowful · repentant · regretful · self-reproach · compunction · pangs · contrition · repentance · atonement · penance
blameworthy
Deserving of censure
- responsibleObligated to answer for actions
- liableLegally responsible for something
- answerableLiable to account
incriminated · accused · caught · implicated · complicit · red-handed · wrongdoing · transgression · violation · infraction
guiltilyinnocently
Without intent to harm
blamelessly · guiltlessly · faultlessly · irreproachably · virtuously
guiltilyshamelessly
Without feeling disgrace
unashamedly · proudly · brazenly · unapologetically · impenitently