culpable

 
Pronunciation: /ˈkʌlpəb(ə)l/

adjective

  • deserving blame: mercy killings are less culpable than ‘ordinary’ murders

Derivatives

culpably

adverb

Origin:

Middle English (in the sense 'deserving punishment'): from Old French coupable, culpable, from Latin culpabilis, from culpare 'to blame', from culpa 'fault, blame'