as in offender
a person who has committed a crime
the police caught the culprit a mere two blocks from the scene of the crime
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of culprit
Cruz says further testing identified Robert Crey as the culprit.
—
Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
While cold drafts or dry soil can play a role, the culprit is often a sudden change in light intensity or insufficient light to fuel the massive energy expenditure of blooming.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Apr. 2026
If condensation is the culprit, improving ventilation can make a noticeable difference.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
It was later revealed that the culprits allegedly used a homemade bomb and a sledgehammer to break into the museum.
—Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for culprit
Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
While cold drafts or dry soil can play a role, the culprit is often a sudden change in light intensity or insufficient light to fuel the massive energy expenditure of blooming.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Apr. 2026
If condensation is the culprit, improving ventilation can make a noticeable difference.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
It was later revealed that the culprits allegedly used a homemade bomb and a sledgehammer to break into the museum.
—Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for culprit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culprit
Noun
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Court records show Abugharbieh entered into a diversion program for first-time offenders charged with misdemeanors.—
Holly Ramer,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Per the alert, surveillance footage showed that in each of the incidents, one offender gained access by breaking into several vehicle windows and then proceeding to remove valuable items inside the cars.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Many of the toughest criminals taken into ICE custody were already in prison, but many others who were arrested have no criminal history.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Apr. 2026
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In the furthest part of space lies Dante 01, a detention facility that houses criminals who have committed the most shocking crimes imaginable.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Culprit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culprit. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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