culpable
deserving blame
Roots
- -able / -ible: able to be, fit to be, or worthy of
- culp: blame or fault
Other words with the culp root
Culpable means blame-able: the fault can fairly be placed there.
The audit found the manager culpable for ignoring repeated warnings.
Culpable is not the same as unlucky. It means blame can attach: a decision, person, or failure bears responsibility.