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Glite Dictionary
bloodguilt

bloodguilt

9.9
A feeling of guilt for causing someone's death
  • noun
  • /ˈblʌdˌɡɪlt/
  • NSFW
translation icon : culpa de sangre
  • The act of slaying itself, regardless of questions of bloodguilt, is expressed with the verb n-k-h "to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill."

Examples

  • Many people struggle with feelings of bloodguilt after committing acts of violence.

  • "The imperative is against unlawful killing resulting in bloodguilt.

    Blog text (10)

  • She felt a deep sense of bloodguilt for the death caused by her reckless actions.

  • The community was divided, with some feeling bloodguilt for their role in the tragic events.

Synonyms

blood on one's hands
vsbloodguilt
  • Informal
22 8.9

Being responsible for someone dying or being seriously hurt because of your actions

focuses on moral guilt and blame for causing death rather than neutral responsibility
blood on someone's head
vsbloodguilt
  • Informal
9.9

Being responsible for another person's harm or death

specifies moral guilt for causing death rather than general responsibility

Antonyms

innocence
35 3.6

Being free from doing wrong or evil things

absolution
  • Formal
24 7.9

A formal act in church when a priest forgives someone's sins

How Guilty

bloodguilt
  • NSFW
9.9
remorse
156 4.5
guilt
375 2.4
culpability
20 8.3
innocence
159 3.4

Surface Forms

bloodguilt singular
bloodgulits plural

Morphology

bloodguilt = blood + guilt (transparent) = blood + guilt

Meaning is directly composed from 'blood' (relating to death or bloodshed) + 'guilt' (feeling of responsibility), so the compound meaning is predictable.

Etymology

Bloodguilt is a clear compound of blood ('the red liquid in our bodies') and guilt ('the feeling of being responsible for something wrong'). So bloodguilt means the guilt someone has for causing another person's death or for bloodshed. A helpful image is 'blood on your hands' to remember it is guilt about killing.