guiltlessness
Definition
Noun: 1. The state or condition of being free from guilt; innocence: This refers to the quality of not having committed a wrong or crime, or the absence of a feeling of culpability.
Usage
"Guiltlessness" is a formal noun used to describe a state of moral or legal innocence. It often implies a lack of responsibility for a specific wrongdoing or a general purity from sin or fault. - It is typically used in abstract, legal, or moral discussions. - It describes a condition or status, not an action.
Examples
- The defendant's guiltlessness was proven by the new evidence presented in court.
- She maintained her guiltlessness throughout the investigation, insisting she had done nothing wrong.
- The child's face radiated a pure guiltlessness that was touching to behold.
Advanced Usage
- Innocence by association: While not a direct phrase, the concept of "guiltlessness" can be extended to imply that an association with something pure or innocent confers a similar quality.
- Philosophical/ theological context: In discussions of ethics or religion, "guiltlessness" can describe a prelapsarian state (a state before the Fall of Man) or an ideal moral condition.
Variants and Related Words
- Guiltless (adjective): Free from guilt; innocent.
- Example: The jury found the accused guiltless.
- Innocence (noun): The state of being not guilty of a crime or offense. This is the most common synonym.
- Blamelessness (noun): The quality of being free from blame.
Synonyms
- Innocence
- Blamelessness
- Sinlessness
- Impeccability (in a moral sense)
- Purity (in a moral or figurative sense)
Antonyms
- Guilt
- Culpability
- Blameworthiness
- Sinfulness
Idioms and Phrases
- A state of grace: While not directly equivalent, this religious idiom can sometimes overlap with the concept of moral guiltlessness.
- With clean hands: This idiom means free from guilt or dishonesty and is closely related to the state of guiltlessness.
- Example: He emerged from the scandal with clean hands, his guiltlessness intact.
Noun
-
a state of innocence
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