The AI-powered English dictionary
usually uncountable, plural guilts
Responsibility for wrongdoing. examples
(law) The state of having been found guilty or admitted guilt in legal proceedings. examples
The regret of having done wrong. quotations examples
Appropriate guilt is experienced when we actually do something objectively wrong—for example, exploit another, betray a trust, and so on. […] Inappropriate guilt occurs from believing a lie and is resolved by an application of the truth.
2018, Timothy R. Jennings, The Aging Brain, page 158
third-person singular simple present guilts, present participle guilting, simple past and past participle guilted
(intransitive, obsolete) To commit offenses; act criminally.
(transitive, informal) To cause someone to feel guilt, particularly in order to influence their behaviour. quotations examples
Shame based parents would have guilted him for expressing anger.
1988, John Bradshaw, Healing the shame that binds you
We don't have to be manipulated, guilted, coerced, or forced into anything.
1992, Melody Beattie, Codependent No More: how to stop controlling others and start caring for yourself
But I won't be threatened or bribed or guilted into giving up something that's important to me.
1995, Nora Roberts, True Betrayals