Skip to main content

criticalexpressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgments

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgments

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/

Example Sentences

  • My mom's critical review of my cooking: 'Even the smoke alarm is applauding!'
  • The CEO said the meeting was critical, but half the team was playing mobile games.
  • Critical thinking skills are essential for academic success.

critical

ADJECTIVE

[/ˈkrɪtɪkəl/]

expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgments

A critical moment — one wrong move and everything collapses.
💡 Concept

A critical moment — one wrong move and everything collapses.

At a critical hit, don’t slip a bit — one tiny shift can ruin it.
🎵 Rhyme

At a critical hit, don’t slip a bit — one tiny shift can ruin it.

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈkrɪtɪkəl/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈkrɪtɪkəl/

🌳Etymology

Rootcrit
Suffix--ical

Origin

From Latin 'criticus' meaning 'able to discern or judge,' which derives from Greek 'kritikos' related to 'krinein' meaning 'to separate, judge, or decide.' The word entered English through Old French 'critique' in the 16th century.

Breakdown

crit- (from Greek 'krinein' meaning judge/discern) + -ical (adjective suffix meaning 'of or relating to') = critical

🎵Rhyme

politicalmysticaltypical
political
mystical
typical

🔗Collocations

critical thinking
critical condition
critical moment
critical analysis
be critical of
critical mass

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My mom's critical review of my cooking: 'Even the smoke alarm is applauding!'

😄 Fun example

The CEO said the meeting was critical, but half the team was playing mobile games.

Critical thinking skills are essential for academic success.

😄 Fun example

The doctor said my condition was critical, but I think he was just being dramatic about my paper cut.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

crucialvitalessentialimportantsevere

Antonyms

unimportanttrivialsupportive

Related

criticismcriticcriticallycrisiscriterion

Want to master 19,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.