Guilt Meaning
Guilt Definition & Usage
A feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing or a sense of having violated one's moral principles, often accompanied by remorse.
Examples
- "He couldn't shake the feeling of guilt after lying to his best friend."
- "She felt an overwhelming guilt when she found out that her actions had caused someone else pain."
- "The guilt of not being there for her during the difficult time weighed heavily on him."
- "After the accident, he was consumed with guilt and couldn't focus on anything else."
- "Her guilt was so intense that it made her avoid looking people in the eye."
The state of having committed a crime or an offense, especially after a formal judgment or legal determination.
Examples
- "The jury found him guilty of all charges, and he was sentenced to prison."
- "Her guilt was evident from the evidence presented during the trial."
- "Despite the confession, his guilt was not established beyond a reasonable doubt."
- "The detective's job was to gather proof of the suspect's guilt."
- "The defendant's guilt was debated in court for several weeks before the final verdict was reached."
To cause or induce feelings of guilt in someone, often intentionally or through manipulation.
Examples
- "She tried to guilt him into attending the family dinner, even though he didn't want to."
- "His words were meant to guilt her into helping him with the project."
- "Parents sometimes guilt their children into behaving a certain way."
- "He felt as if everyone around him was trying to guilt him into making a decision."
- "The ad campaign was designed to guilt people into donating more money."
Cultural Context
Guilt is a complex emotion, often linked to moral or ethical standards. In many cultures, guilt serves as a regulator of behavior, enforcing social norms and personal values. It plays a key role in both personal conscience and legal systems.
The Weight of Guilt
Story
The Weight of Guilt
Anna stood in the dimly lit room, staring at the old family portrait on the wall. The smiles in the photo seemed to mock her, reminding her of the promise she had broken years ago. She had always felt a sense of responsibility toward her family, but something had changed after the accident. The guilt weighed heavily on her chest, like a physical force she couldn’t escape. She had told herself she was fine, that the past was behind her, but now, standing here, the guilt seemed inescapable. Her brother, Tom, had forgiven her long ago, insisting that the accident wasn’t her fault. But Anna couldn’t forgive herself. Every time she looked at the photograph, she felt as though she had failed her family. The guilt was so intense that it affected every part of her life. She couldn’t focus at work, and her friends had noticed her withdrawal. One evening, her mother called her. "Anna, I know you've been avoiding us. You don’t have to carry this guilt forever. You didn’t cause the accident. It was just… one of those things." Anna didn’t know how to respond. The words sounded comforting, but they didn’t erase the nagging feeling of responsibility that lingered. Was it possible to let go of something like guilt? As Anna sat in her room, trying to make sense of her emotions, she realized something important. Guilt wasn’t something she could run from. It wasn’t going to disappear on its own. But perhaps, it was time to forgive herself. Slowly, over time, she might be able to accept that mistakes were part of life and that holding onto guilt forever would only prevent her from healing. In the days that followed, Anna took small steps to reconnect with her family, to mend relationships strained by years of self-imposed isolation. It wasn’t easy, but with every conversation, every act of kindness, she felt the weight of guilt begin to lift. Slowly, she was learning that the path to redemption wasn’t about punishing herself, but about understanding and forgiveness—of others and, most importantly, herself.
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