critical

adjective

crit·i·cal ˈkri-ti-kəl How to pronounce critical (audio)

: inclined to criticize severely and unfavorably

His critical temperament cost him several friends.

: consisting of or involving criticism

critical writings

also : of or relating to the judgment of critics

The play was a critical success.

: exercising or involving careful judgment or judicious evaluation

critical thinking

a critical commentary on the mayor's proposal

: including variant readings and scholarly emendations

a critical edition

: of, relating to, or being a turning point or specially important juncture

a critical phase

: such as

(1)

: relating to or being the stage of a disease at which an abrupt change for better or worse may be expected

also : being or relating to an illness or condition involving danger of death

critical care

a patient listed in critical condition

(2)

: relating to or being a state in which or a measurement or point at which some quality, property, or phenomenon suffers a definite change

critical temperature

: indispensable, vital

a critical waterfowl habitat

a component critical to the operation of a machine

: being in or approaching a state of crisis

a critical shortage

a critical situation

: crucial, decisive

a critical test

: of sufficient size to sustain a chain reaction

—used of a mass of fissionable material

a critical mass

: sustaining a nuclear chain reaction

The reactor went critical.

critically

ˈkri-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce critical (audio)

adverb

criticalness

ˈkri-ti-kəl-nəs How to pronounce critical (audio)

noun

Example Sentences

The program presents a critical analysis of the government's strategies. She has a talent for critical thinking. We need to look at these proposed changes with a critical eye before we accept them.

Recent Examples on the Web Among other protections, state lawmakers set a high standard for academic transparency, and reject critical race theory’s pernicious ideas.

James Freeman, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 One section, which used to lead Vance’s issues page, pledged to cut funding for state universities that teach critical race theory, an idea Vance in the 2021 podcast interview credited to far-right Hungarian Prime Minster Victor Orban.

Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland, 4 Sep. 2022 Gates says that the attacks on critical race theory are misguided.

Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Sep. 2022 After McAuliffe’s remark, the race shifted quickly in favor of Youngkin, especially as critical race theory and transgenderism in schools became central issues.

Fox News, 2 Sep. 2022 But her campaign’s priorities mirror the organization’s, including advocating against mask mandates and doing away with critical race theory, already banned in Florida’s public schools.

Leslie Postal, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2022 The Chalkboard Review post was written by Tony Kinnett, a former teacher at Indianapolis Public Schools who posted a video on Twitter in 2021 alleging critical race theory is covertly taught in schools.

Madison Smalstig, The Indianapolis Star, 31 Aug. 2022 Patriot Mobile Action sent thousands of political mailers warning residents in Southlake, Keller, Grapevine and Mansfield that critical race theory was endangering their children.

Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, 25 Aug. 2022 The Forest Hills School District filed a motion Wednesday to dismiss the lawsuit that some parents, students and teachers filed in June over a board resolution to ban critical race theory.

The Enquirer, 24 Aug. 2022 See More

Word History

Etymology

in sense "being at a turning point," from 16th-17th century cretike, criticke "at a turning point" (Middle English cretic, borrowed from Late Latin criticus "at a turning point, decisive," borrowed from Greek kritikós, taken as derivative of krísis crisis, replacing earlier krísimos) + -al entry 1; in sense "inclined to criticize, involving criticism," from critic entry 1 + -al entry 1 — more at critic entry 1

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Medical Definition

critical

adjective

crit·i·cal ˈkrit-i-kəl How to pronounce critical (audio)

: relating to, indicating, or being the stage of a disease at which an abrupt change for better or worse may be anticipated with reasonable certainty

the critical phase of a fever

: being or relating to an illness or condition involving danger of death

critical care

a critical head injury

: of sufficient size to sustain a chain reaction

—used of a mass of fissionable material

: sustaining a chain reaction

—used of a nuclear reactor

critical

adjective

as in particular

given to making or expressing unfavorable judgments about things adults tend to be critical of teenagers' taste in music and movies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

particular
demanding
rejective
judgmental
hypercritical
overcritical
captious
faultfinding
carping
caviling
merciless
discerning
harsh
judicious
discriminating
finical
finicky
exacting
cavilling
nitpicky
fastidious
picky
quibbling
unforgiving
fussy
uncharitable
pettifogging

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

uncritical
undiscriminating
charitable
undemanding
forgiving
unfussy

as in urgent

needing immediate attention this problem isn't critical, so we can go home now and tend to it in the morning

Synonyms & Similar Words

urgent
acute
pressing
emergent
imperative
compelling
crucial
dire
intense
serious
exigent
instant
crying
desperate
immediate
burning
vital
extreme
imperious
dangerous
importunate
demanding
overriding
insistent
hazardous
clamant
necessitous
precarious
perilous
life-or-death
severe
explosive
unstable
life-and-death
grave

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

noncritical
minor
unimportant
trivial
negligible
incidental
stable
nonurgent
safe
nonthreatening
low-pressure

as in crucial

of the greatest possible importance this is the critical exam that will largely determine your college career

Synonyms & Similar Words

crucial
key
vital
pivotal
essential
fundamental
basic
necessary
decisive
indispensable
life-or-death
elementary
instrumental
urgent
requisite
life-and-death
pressing
weighty

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

trivial
unimportant
minor
insignificant
inconsequential

as in essential

impossible to do without critical information for an informed medical diagnosis

Synonyms & Similar Words

essential
necessary
required
integral
needed
vital
needful
crucial
imperative
important
indispensable
requisite
all-important
key
must-have
major
prerequisite
basic
fundamental
mandatory
compulsory
of the essence
necessitous
meaningful
central
momentous
urgent
significant
substantial
obligatory
organic
pressing
material
consequential
persistent
insistent
nonelective
weighty

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

unnecessary
needless
unimportant
nonessential
unwanted
dispensable
undesired
insignificant
external
extra
inessential
unessential
unneeded
inconsequential
superfluous
extraneous
excess
surplus

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of critical are captious, carping, censorious, faultfinding, and hypercritical. While all these words mean "inclined to look for and point out faults and defects," critical may also imply an effort to see a thing clearly and truly in order to judge it fairly.

a critical essay

While the synonyms captious and critical are close in meaning, captious suggests a readiness to detect trivial faults or raise objections on trivial grounds.

a captious critic

The synonyms carping and critical are sometimes interchangeable, but carping implies an ill-natured or perverse picking of flaws.

a carping editorial

The words censorious and critical can be used in similar contexts, but censorious implies a disposition to be severely critical and condemnatory.

the censorious tone of the review

Although the words faultfinding and critical have much in common, faultfinding implies a querulous or exacting temperament.

a faultfinding reviewer

The words hypercritical and critical are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hypercritical suggests a tendency to judge by unreasonably strict standards.

hypercritical disparagement of other people's work

单词	critical
释义	critical adjective crit·i·cal ˈkri-ti-kəl 1 a : inclined to criticize severely and unfavorably His critical temperament cost him several friends. b : consisting of or involving criticism critical writings also : of or relating to the judgment of critics The play was a critical success. c : exercising or involving careful judgment or judicious evaluation critical thinking a critical commentary on the mayor's proposal d : including variant readings and scholarly emendations a critical edition 2 a : of, relating to, or being a turning point or specially important juncture a critical phase : such as (1) : relating to or being the stage of a disease at which an abrupt change for better or worse may be expected also : being or relating to an illness or condition involving danger of death critical care a patient listed in critical condition (2) : relating to or being a state in which or a measurement or point at which some quality, property, or phenomenon suffers a definite change critical temperature b : indispensable, vital a critical waterfowl habitat a component critical to the operation of a machine c : being in or approaching a state of crisis a critical shortage a critical situation d : crucial, decisive a critical test 3 a : of sufficient size to sustain a chain reaction —used of a mass of fissionable material a critical mass b : sustaining a nuclear chain reaction The reactor went critical. critically ˈkri-ti-k(ə-)lē adverb criticalness ˈkri-ti-kəl-nəs noun Synonyms captious carping caviling cavilling faultfinding hypercritical judgmental overcritical rejective See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences The program presents a critical analysis of the government's strategies. She has a talent for critical thinking. We need to look at these proposed changes with a critical eye before we accept them. Recent Examples on the Web Among other protections, state lawmakers set a high standard for academic transparency, and reject critical race theory’s pernicious ideas. James Freeman, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 One section, which used to lead Vance’s issues page, pledged to cut funding for state universities that teach critical race theory, an idea Vance in the 2021 podcast interview credited to far-right Hungarian Prime Minster Victor Orban. Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland, 4 Sep. 2022 Gates says that the attacks on critical race theory are misguided. Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Sep. 2022 After McAuliffe’s remark, the race shifted quickly in favor of Youngkin, especially as critical race theory and transgenderism in schools became central issues. Fox News, 2 Sep. 2022 But her campaign’s priorities mirror the organization’s, including advocating against mask mandates and doing away with critical race theory, already banned in Florida’s public schools. Leslie Postal, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2022 The Chalkboard Review post was written by Tony Kinnett, a former teacher at Indianapolis Public Schools who posted a video on Twitter in 2021 alleging critical race theory is covertly taught in schools. Madison Smalstig, The Indianapolis Star, 31 Aug. 2022 Patriot Mobile Action sent thousands of political mailers warning residents in Southlake, Keller, Grapevine and Mansfield that critical race theory was endangering their children. Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, 25 Aug. 2022 The Forest Hills School District filed a motion Wednesday to dismiss the lawsuit that some parents, students and teachers filed in June over a board resolution to ban critical race theory. The Enquirer, 24 Aug. 2022 See More Word History Etymology in sense "being at a turning point," from 16th-17th century cretike, criticke "at a turning point" (Middle English cretic, borrowed from Late Latin criticus "at a turning point, decisive," borrowed from Greek kritikós, taken as derivative of krísis crisis, replacing earlier krísimos) + -al entry 1; in sense "inclined to criticize, involving criticism," from critic entry 1 + -al entry 1 — more at critic entry 1 First Known Use 1556, in the meaning defined at sense 2a Phrases Containing critical critical angle critical care critical care unit critical condition critical faculties critical value critical race theory with a critical eye self-critical form-critical critical point on the critical list critical region critical mass See More critical angle critical care critical care unit critical condition critical faculties critical value critical race theory with a critical eye self-critical form-critical critical point on the critical list critical region critical mass See More Kids Definition critical adjective crit·i·cal ˈkri-ti-kəl 1 : likely or eager to find fault 2 : consisting of or involving judgment of value, worth, beauty, or quality critical writings 3 : using or involving careful judgment a critical examination of a patient 4 : extremely important It is critical that you follow the instructions exactly. Medical Definition critical adjective crit·i·cal ˈkrit-i-kəl 1 a : relating to, indicating, or being the stage of a disease at which an abrupt change for better or worse may be anticipated with reasonable certainty the critical phase of a fever b : being or relating to an illness or condition involving danger of death critical care a critical head injury 2 a : of sufficient size to sustain a chain reaction —used of a mass of fissionable material b : sustaining a chain reaction —used of a nuclear reactor critical adjective 1 as in particular given to making or expressing unfavorable judgments about things adults tend to be critical of teenagers' taste in music and movies Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance particular demanding rejective judgmental hypercritical overcritical captious faultfinding carping caviling merciless discerning harsh judicious discriminating finical finicky exacting cavilling nitpicky fastidious picky quibbling unforgiving fussy uncharitable pettifogging Antonyms & Near Antonyms uncritical undiscriminating charitable undemanding forgiving unfussy 2 as in urgent needing immediate attention this problem isn't critical, so we can go home now and tend to it in the morning Synonyms & Similar Words urgent acute pressing emergent imperative compelling crucial dire intense serious exigent instant crying desperate immediate burning vital extreme imperious dangerous importunate demanding overriding insistent hazardous clamant necessitous precarious perilous life-or-death severe explosive unstable life-and-death grave Antonyms & Near Antonyms noncritical minor unimportant trivial negligible incidental stable nonurgent safe nonthreatening low-pressure See More 3 as in crucial of the greatest possible importance this is the critical exam that will largely determine your college career Synonyms & Similar Words crucial key vital pivotal essential fundamental basic necessary decisive indispensable life-or-death elementary instrumental urgent requisite life-and-death pressing weighty Antonyms & Near Antonyms trivial unimportant minor insignificant inconsequential 4 as in essential impossible to do without critical information for an informed medical diagnosis Synonyms & Similar Words essential necessary required integral needed vital needful crucial imperative important indispensable requisite all-important key must-have major prerequisite basic fundamental mandatory compulsory of the essence necessitous meaningful central momentous urgent significant substantial obligatory organic pressing material consequential persistent insistent nonelective weighty Antonyms & Near Antonyms unnecessary needless unimportant nonessential unwanted dispensable undesired insignificant external extra inessential unessential unneeded inconsequential superfluous extraneous excess surplus See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of critical are captious, carping, censorious, faultfinding, and hypercritical. While all these words mean "inclined to look for and point out faults and defects," critical may also imply an effort to see a thing clearly and truly in order to judge it fairly. a critical essay While the synonyms captious and critical are close in meaning, captious suggests a readiness to detect trivial faults or raise objections on trivial grounds. a captious critic The synonyms carping and critical are sometimes interchangeable, but carping implies an ill-natured or perverse picking of flaws. a carping editorial The words censorious and critical can be used in similar contexts, but censorious implies a disposition to be severely critical and condemnatory. the censorious tone of the review Although the words faultfinding and critical have much in common, faultfinding implies a querulous or exacting temperament. a faultfinding reviewer The words hypercritical and critical are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hypercritical suggests a tendency to judge by unreasonably strict standards. hypercritical disparagement of other people's work
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critical

adjective

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing critical

Kids Definition

adjective

Medical Definition

adjective

adjective

Synonym Chooser