Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Feeling or revealing a sense of guilt: Describes a state of being overwhelmed or persistently troubled by feelings of guilt or remorse for one's actions or omissions.

Usage

• The adjective "guilt-ridden" is used to describe a person's emotional state. It emphasizes the intensity and burden of the guilt felt.
• It typically precedes a noun (e.g., a guilt-ridden conscience) or follows a linking verb like "feel," "seem," or "be" (e.g., She felt guilt-ridden).

Examples

• Adjective:
  • After forgetting his wife's birthday, he was guilt-ridden for days.
  • The guilt-ridden witness finally confessed to the police.
  • She wrote a guilt-ridden letter apologizing for her harsh words.

Advanced Usage

• "Guilt-ridden over/about something": Used to specify the cause of the guilt.
  • He was guilt-ridden over his failure to help his friend in need.
  • She felt guilt-ridden about the accident, even though it wasn't her fault.

Variants and Related Words

• Guilt (n): The fact of having committed a specified or implied offense; a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing.
  • His guilt was evident from his expression.
• Guilty (adj): Culpable of or responsible for a specified wrongdoing; experiencing guilt.
  • The jury found him guilty.
  • I feel guilty for arriving late.

Synonyms

• Remorseful: Filled with a deep sense of guilt and regret.
• Contrite: Feeling or expressing remorse at the recognition that one has done wrong.
• Penitent: Feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong.

Antonyms

• Unrepentant: Not feeling shame or regret about one's actions or attitudes.
• Guilt-free: Without guilt; not feeling responsible for wrongdoing.

Adjective

1. feeling or revealing a sense of guilt
   • so guilt-ridden he could not face his father