Showing results for criticize. Search instead for Criticiz.

Synonyms

criticize

American

[krit-uh-sahyz] / ˈkrɪt əˌsaɪz /

especially British, criticise

verb (used with object)

to censure or find fault with.

Synonyms:

blame, condemn
to judge or discuss the merits and faults of.

to criticize three novels in one review.

Synonyms:

evaluate, appraise

verb (used without object)

to find fault; judge unfavorably or harshly.
to make judgments as to merits and faults.

criticize British

/ ˈkrɪtɪˌsaɪz /

verb

to judge (something) with disapproval; censure
to evaluate or analyse (something)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of criticize

First recorded in 1640–50; critic + -ize

Explanation

To criticize is to find what's wrong with something, like the improbabilities in a movie's plot line, or double standards in your father's rules. The verb criticize comes from the noun, critic, and means "to act like a critic." A critic is someone who judges, and that doesn't have to mean negative judgment (think of a glowing movie review from a movie critic), but when we use criticize we always mean finding what's wrong, instead of what's good, with something. If your friend is just learning to bake, don't criticize his first batch of burned cookies too harshly; he'll just give up.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing criticize

The SAT: Language of the Test, List 3

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

The Language of Standardized Tests, List 2

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

The New SAT: The Language of the Test

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

criticize criticizes criticized criticizing

Some will criticize the proposal as shifting premium increases onto enrollees.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026

The British-born Republican has also declined to criticize the president on issues including immigration enforcement or the Iran war.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026

“I was part of a series of causes that led to that outcome,” but “you have to be allowed to criticize powerful people,” Cofnas said of Arday and his death.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

Billionaires like New York Knicks owner James L. Dolan reportedly use spying tech to harass people who criticize them.

From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026

For this reason maybe she did not criticize me too much.

From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan

The piece also criticizes media and academic discussions that portray Latino men and Latinas as politically opposed blocs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

The Book of Jubilees, one of the important works preserved in the Qumran library, strongly criticizes the prevailing lunar calendar.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026

He criticizes DHS’s “conclusory or dismissive” responses to the 22,000 public comments it received about the proposal.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

“You are inspiring a dozen people for every person that criticizes you.”

From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2026

Then my daughter criticizes me as if I were not there.

From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan

At 592 pages, this book could easily feel like a smug kiss-off to all those — present company included — who have criticized Schoenbrun’s reluctance to pare down their concepts into less dense works.

From Salon ● Oct. 29, 2026

Patient-safety and pharmaceutical industry groups criticized the agency for allowing peptides with limited data on the market.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, whose SpaceX owns rival AI developer xAI, criticized Anthropic’s approach.

From Barron's ● Oct. 26, 2026

The 44-year-old singer sparked a social media firestorm last week when she publicly criticized Art of Play, a magic and games store in Brooklyn, after an unsuccessful attempt to purchase a mechanical singing bird.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 19, 2026

The students they criticized in the teachers’ lounge were the same students celebrated in a local newspaper article.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers

Environmental advocates were more cautious about criticizing the program, which they say provides critical funding to reduce pollution from ports, railyards and distribution centers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2026

Does that get to you at all when you see Elon Musk out there criticizing you?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

An artificial intelligence model developed by Anthropic submitted a fabricated tip about an unsolved homicide to Philadelphia police, authorities said Friday, criticizing the company for taking two months to report the incident.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

And if she had gotten all the lifts and tucks we expect of a TV star, we’d be criticizing her for that too.

From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2026

Aunt Marge loved criticizing him, so the untidier he looked, the happier she would be.

From "Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban" by J.K. Rowling

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023