WordGarden.ioguilt
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /ɡˈɪlt/
US
- /ˈɡɪlt/
Meanings
Noun
a painful feeling of having done something wrong
responsibility for a wrong act or crime
Verb
to make someone feel guilty, often to pressure them
Beyond the definition
Guilt is not only a legal idea; it is also the heavy feeling that comes after doing something wrong, or after believing you have done wrong. It carries a sense of responsibility for harm, whether the harm was real or only felt that way. Think of a child who breaks a vase by accident; the child may still feel guilt, even without meaning to do it. Or think of a friend who forgets your birthday; they may feel guilty about it later. This feeling can push people to apologize and make things right, but too much of it can weigh a person down. It is different from shame: guilt says, "I did something bad," while shame says, "I am bad." In stories such as Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, this feeling can grow so strong that it seems to follow a person everywhere.
Guilt is a complex state involving remorse, responsibility, or sorrow for something seen as wrong. It appears when we believe our behavior has broken our moral standards, gone against social expectations, or caused harm to other people. While many people first think of the feeling, the word also refers to the state of being responsible for an offense, as in a court deciding someone's guilt.
Unlike simple regret, guilt usually carries a moral side. It can be caused by direct actions ("I lied to a friend"), failures to act ("I didn't help when I could have"), or even troubling thoughts that make a person feel they have done wrong. It can show up as anxiety, self-blame, sadness, and a strong wish to apologize or repair the damage.
Psychologically, guilt can cut both ways. Healthy guilt can help us apologize, make amends, and learn from mistakes. But excessive or misplaced guilt, especially when someone feels responsible for things outside their control, can feed anxiety, depression, and unhealthy patterns in relationships.
The idea runs deeply through literature and psychology. In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the main character is haunted by overwhelming guilt after murdering King Duncan. Psychologists often distinguish between helpful guilt, which leads to positive change, and toxic guilt, which traps a person in self-punishment. Whether it is a brief stab of conscience or a lasting burden, guilt is a powerful force that shapes behavior and guides the moral sense.
Examples
- 1
Moral reaction
She felt a sudden wave of guilt when she realized she had blamed the wrong person.
- 2
Lingering regret
He still carries a lot of guilt about leaving home so suddenly.
- Patterncarry guilt about + event
continue to feel bad about it
- 3
Reluctant agreement
I said yes out of guilt, not because I really wanted to help.
- Phraseout of guilt
because you feel bad
- 4
Parenting regret
Many parents feel guilt over not spending enough time with their children.
- Patternfeel guilt over + action/situation
feel bad about it
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Confession tone
His voice was full of guilt when he finally told the truth.
- 6
Moving on
She was trying to let go of the guilt and move on.
- Phraselet go of the guilt
stop holding on to that bad feeling
- 7
Legal evidence
The jury had to decide whether there was enough evidence of guilt.
- Phraseevidence of guilt
evidence that someone committed the crime
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- contrition
- self-reproach
- compunction
Contrast
- clear conscience
- innocence
Used with (collocations)
- feel guilt
- guilt over
- burden of guilt
- guilt trip
Word family
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Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- guiltnoun
Forms
- guiltspluralnoun