guiltiness
State of wrongdoing
Guiltiness is the state of being guilty—either having committed a wrong or feeling responsible for one.
The word appears more in older texts and legal contexts than in everyday speech, where guilt serves the same purpose: The guiltiness of the accused was never in doubt.
It can also describe the feeling itself: Her guiltiness showed in her face.
Deserving blame for wrongdoing
- convictionFirmly held belief
- verdictOfficial court decision
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
defendant · plea · evidence · testimony · incrimination · liability · complicity · admission
Sorrow over past actions
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- penitenceRemorse for misdeeds
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
- sorrowDeep emotional distress
self-reproach · atonement · amends · redemption · apology · confession · penance · ruefulness
Violation of law or code
- wrongdoingUnethical or illegal action
- sinViolation of divine law
- misdeedImmoral or illegal act
- offenseViolation or umbrage
trespass · wickedness · iniquity · vice · corruption · immorality · evil · unethical
Loss of dignity
- disgraceLoss of honor
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
- stigmaMark of dishonor
- dishonorLoss of respect
mortification · self-condemnation · chagrin · abashment · self-disgust · degradation · worthlessness · inferiority
Measure of heaviness
- heavinessState of being weighty
- loadCarried weight or burden
- overwhelmDefeat by excess
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
strain · albatross · yoke · oppression · gnawing · nagging · carrying · torment
Concerning right conduct
- scruplesMoral reservations about acting
- principlesFoundational moral beliefs
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
judgment · conscientiousness · self-examination · qualms · misgivings · pangs · twinge · prick
culpability
Deserving blame for wrongdoing
- convictionFirmly held belief
- verdictOfficial court decision
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
prosecution · defendant · plea · evidence · testimony · incrimination · liability · complicity · admission · proving
regret
Sorrow over past actions
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- penitenceRemorse for misdeeds
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
sorrow · self-reproach · atonement · amends · redemption · apology · confession · penance · ruefulness · heartache
transgression
Violation of law or code
- wrongdoingUnethical or illegal action
- sinViolation of divine law
- misdeedImmoral or illegal act
offense · trespass · wickedness · iniquity · vice · corruption · immorality · evil · unethical · wrongfulness
humiliation
Loss of dignity
- disgraceLoss of honor
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
- stigmaMark of dishonor
dishonor · mortification · self-condemnation · chagrin · abashment · self-disgust · degradation · worthlessness · inferiority · discomfiture
weight
Measure of heaviness
anxiety · strain · albatross · yoke · oppression · gnawing · nagging · carrying · torment · anguish
moral
Concerning right conduct
- scruplesMoral reservations about acting
- principlesFoundational moral beliefs
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
ethics · judgment · conscientiousness · self-examination · qualms · misgivings · pangs · twinge · prick · self-awareness
guiltinessinnocence
Freedom from wrongdoing
guiltlessness · blamelessness · faultlessness · sinlessness · exoneration
guiltinessclear conscience
Freedom from moral guilt
peace of mind · innocence · self-forgiveness · guiltlessness · righteousness
guilt, guilty, guiltless, guiltily, guilts, guilt-free, self-guilt, guiltlessness, guilty conscience