critical Hear it!

critical Definition

criti·cal (krit′i kəl)

adjective

  1. tending to find fault; censorious
  2. characterized by careful analysis and judgment a sound critical estimate of the problem
  3. of critics or criticism
  4. of or forming a crisis or turning point; decisive
  5. dangerous or risky; causing anxiety a critical situation in international relations
  6. of the crisis of a disease
  7. designating or of important products or raw materials subject to increased production and restricted distribution under strict control, as in wartime
    1. designating or of a point at which a change in character, property, or condition is effected
    2. designating or of the point at which a nuclear chain reaction becomes self-sustaining

Related Forms:

critical Synonyms

critical

modif.

  1. Capable of observing and judging

    analytical, discriminating, penetrating, perceptive, trenchant, discerning, judging, evaluative, interpretive; see also explanatory, judicious, observant 1.

  2. Inclined to adverse criticism

    faultfinding, captious, censorious, hypercritical, inclined to judge with severity, caviling, carping, derogatory, disapproving, judgmental, severe, withering, calumniatory, demanding, satirical, cynical, hairsplitting, quibbling, nitpicking, nagging, scolding, condemning, censuring, reproachful, disparaging, exacting, sharp, cutting, biting, fussy, picky*; see also sarcastic, severe 1.

    Antonyms praising, flattering, encouraging.

  3. Dangerous

    perilous, risky, hazardous; see dangerous 1.

  4. Crucial

    decisive, significant, deciding; see crucial, important 1.

critical may imply an attempt at objective judging so as to determine both merits and faults a critical review, but it often (and hypercritical, always) connotes emphasis on the faults or shortcomings; faultfinding implies a habitual or unreasonable emphasis on faults or defects; captious suggests a characteristic tendency to find fault with, or argue about, even the pettiest details a captious critic; caviling stresses the raising of quibbling objections on the most trivial points a caviling grammarian; carping suggests peevishness, perversity, or censoriousness in seeking out faults See also syn. study at acute.

critical Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • capitalism: The ' left wing ' is highly critical of capitalism and they believe that the working class was once both dynamic and progressive.
  • aspect: The report was critical of certain aspects of the Commission's proposals.
  • government: For example, some reporters critical of the government were murdered and Aristide did not sufficiently condemn their killings.

Modifying Another Word

  • absolutely: The context is absolutely critical to properly interpreting Bible verses.
  • highly: Also suggested was Extreme Programming Refactored: The Case Against XP, which takes a highly critical view of XP.
  • overly: One does not wish to be overly critical, but these three meta-analyses in the same area are fascinating.
  • fiercely: Marx and Engels were fiercely critical of these various strands of socialism, as the final sections of the Manifesto explain in some detail.
  • especially: This is especially critical at times of highest demand - examples include lactation or during hot weather.
  • increasingly: More recently, however, he has become increasingly critical of US policies toward Iraq.

Preposition: for

  • success: In the CCS area the mapping of journal titles to research interests is critical for success.

Modifies a noun

  • acclaim: The Beta Band's final fling But for all the critical acclaim the band never made much money.
  • thinking: Debating improved my thinking and arguing skills, which now help me in critical thinking.
  • mass: The critical mass is traveling between various climate chaos criminal's.. .
  • appraisal: If you have answered yes to all of these critical appraisals, then you are ready to save and print the final document.
  • reflection: If our ethical concepts survive appropriate sorts of critical reflection, then they are concepts in which we can have confidence.

Used with adjective complement

  • become: More recently, however, he has become increasingly critical of US policies toward Iraq.
  • prove: Sales in the run-up to last night's draw could prove critical to the company's future.
  • remain: Codona warned however that the situation remained critical, with forced evictions imminent in Bedfordshire, Kent, Essex and other counties.
  • consider: No. My experience shows that only a very small percentage of the encrypted messages that I receive are ones that I consider critical.
critical Quotes

The critical period in matrimony is breakfast-time.

—Herbert, SirA(lan) P(atrick)

Every known class of refusal was successfully exhibited. Onehorse endeavoured to climbtherailsintothe Grand Stand; another, having stoppeddeadatthecritical point, swung round, and returned in consternation to the starting-point, with hisrider hanging likea locket around his neck. Another, dowered with a sense of humour

—Martin Ross