criticaladjective
uk/ˈkrɪt.ɪ.kəl/us/ˈkrɪt̬.ɪ.kəl/critical adjective (NOT PLEASED)
B2 saying that someone or something is bad or wrong:
a critical report
The report is highly critical of safety standards at the factory.
More examples
- She is critical of the president's globalist foreign policy.
- She was highly critical of the insensitive and peremptory way in which the cases had been handled.
- Many people were critical of the resurgent militarism in the country.
- She is a prolific writer with critical views and a sharp tongue.
- She is very critical of the way we bring up our children.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Critical & uncomplimentary
- a cheap shot idiom
- acidulous
- astringent
- barbed
- censorious
- critically
- damning
- deprecating
- disapproving
- disparaging
- hard-hitting
- ill
- pejorative
- pointed
- snidely
- sniffy
- uncomplimentary
- venomous
- vitriol
- withering
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critical adjective (IMPORTANT)
B2 of the greatest importance to the way things might happen:
The president's support is critical (to this project).
a critical decision
More examples
- The avoidance of injury is critical to a professional athlete.
- It is critical that we keep the content of the letters secret.
- Continued funding is critical for the project.
- He left a case containing critical documents on the train.
- Continual stirring is critical to a good custard.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Very important or urgent
- all-important
- arch
- at all cost(s) idiom
- be a matter of life and/or death idiom
- burning
- chief
- considerable
- major league
- make the world go around/round idiom
- materially
- minor league
- mission-critical
- prized
- prominent
- radical
- sacred
- salient
- serious
- seriously
- substantial
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critical adjective (GIVING OPINIONS)
C2 giving opinions or judgments on books, plays, films, etc.:
She has written a major critical appraisal/study of Saul Bellow's novels.
His last film won/received critical acclaim (= was praised by film critics).
More examples
- Studying has certainly sharpened my critical faculties .
- Despite his great commercial success he still yearns for critical approval.
- The play opened to great critical acclaim.
- He has written a long critical piece evaluating the exhibition.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Analysing and evaluating
- analyse
- analyser
- analyst
- analytical
- analyze
- go through sth
- have the measure of sb/sth idiom
- inspect
- inspection
- interpretive
- judge
- measure
- proof
- sell sb/yourself/sth short idiom
- set great, little, etc. store by sth idiom
- sift
- sit
- sit in judgment on/over sb idiom
- size sth/sb up
- survey
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critical adjective (SERIOUS)
B2 extremely serious or dangerous:
Both drivers are critical/in a critical condition (= so badly hurt that they might die) after the 120 mph crash.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Serious and severe
- acute
- critically
- desperate
- dire
- egregious
- grave
- gravity
- grievous
- heaviness
- heavy
- mortal
- serious
- seriously
- severely
- severity
- stiff
- stiffness
- swingeing
- terminal
- utmost
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