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guilt

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ɡɪlt/

guilt means: Responsibility for doing something wrong, or the unhappy feeling that you have done something wrong.

noun

RESPONSIBILITY FOR WRONGB2

Responsibility for doing something wrong, or the unhappy feeling that you have done something wrong.

  • She felt guilt after telling the lie.
  • The evidence proved his guilt.
  • He admitted his guilt and asked for forgiveness.

How to use it: guilt about something (She felt guilt about leaving her family.); guilt over something (His guilt over the accident kept him awake.)

Similar words: culpability, remorse

Opposites: innocence

Common phrases: feel guilt, prove someone's guilt, sense of guilt

verb

PRESSURE THROUGH SHAMEC1

To make someone feel bad about their actions, often to make them do what you want.

  • Don't guilt me about taking a break.
  • Her parents guilted her into visiting every weekend.
  • He tried to guilt us into staying longer.

How to use it: guilt someone into doing something (He guilted me into helping him move.); guilt someone about something (She guilted him about missing dinner.)

Similar words: guilt-trip

Common phrases: guilt someone into, guilt someone about

Questions about guilt

What does guilt mean?

Responsibility for doing something wrong, or the unhappy feeling that you have done something wrong.

What is guilt in other languages?

Türkçe: suçluluk · Español: culpa · Français: culpabilité · Deutsch: Schuld · Italiano: colpa · 日本語: 罪責

How do you pronounce guilt?

It is pronounced /ɡɪlt/.

How do you use guilt in a sentence?

She felt guilt after telling the lie. The evidence proved his guilt.

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guilt in other languages

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