criticize
Americanverb (used with object)
-
criticizes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
criticized,
past participle, past
-
criticizing
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
criticizes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
criticized,
past participle, past
-
criticizing
present participle
-
to find fault; judge unfavorably or harshly.
-
to make judgments as to merits and faults.
verb
-
to judge (something) with disapproval; censure
-
to evaluate or analyse (something)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
criticizernoun
-
overcriticizeverb
-
precriticizeverb (used with object)
-
recriticizeverb (used with object)
-
criticizableadjective
-
noncriticizingadjective
-
uncriticizableadjective
-
uncriticizedadjective
-
uncriticizingadjective
-
well-criticizedadjective
-
criticizinglyadverb
-
uncriticizablyadverb
-
uncriticizinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
criticizesimple
-
criticizessimple
-
have criticizedperfect
-
has criticizedperfect
-
am criticizingprogressive
-
are criticizingprogressive
-
is criticizingprogressive
-
have been criticizingperfect progressive
-
has been criticizingperfect progressive
Past
-
criticizedsimple
-
had criticizedperfect
-
was criticizingprogressive
-
were criticizingprogressive
-
had been criticizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of criticize
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.
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:
Many thought Caruso would challenge Bass for reelection this year, as he continued to publicly criticize the mayor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 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
Cubans who once feared government reprisals now criticize the country's leaders and have taken to banging pots and pans in regular nighttime protests.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
Walter and Kathy have never hesitated to criticize me, and I took their suggestions to heart, often incorporating their changes.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
He criticizes DHS’s “conclusory or dismissive” responses to the 22,000 public comments it received about the proposal.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
What’s absolutely fascinating, and totally on-brand, is how Marsh contradicts, criticizes and updates himself between the various books.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
Mr. Epstein rightly criticizes the defensive tone that now characterizes some exchanges at White House briefings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 12, 2026
The strategy by McVay was so flawed, it was actually criticized by Tom Brady on Fox, and Brady rarely criticizes anybody.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 26, 2026
Then my daughter criticizes me as if I were not there.
From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan
The Washington Commanders are being criticized for a recent clothing drop featuring the team’s former name.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
Sean Garcia-Leys, executive director of the Peace & Justice Law Center who was acting as a spokesman for Alvarez, criticized Essayli’s decision to bring the charges.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
Despite last year’s ceremony boasting a four-year viewership high, the general audience doesn’t seem to care who’s announced as the host — unless it’s someone they’ve openly criticized.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
It wasn’t the first time Modi had criticized the war, but the remark was notably direct and forceful.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026
Howard made sport of cornering journalists who had criticized Seabiscuit.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
“Defendants’ contemporaneous words and deeds confirm that the challenged actions were based on a desire to make a public example out of Anthropic for its ‘arrogance’ in criticizing the government,” Lin wrote.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
Owens was criticizing the Black Lives Matter movement and highlighting the efforts of her organization, the Blexit Foundation.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
Now Stanley Druckenmiller is criticizing the Treasury secretary.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026
Mayor Karen Bass and even some of his own prosecutors criticizing the filing as “insane” and a deterrent for police looking to expose corruption and misconduct within their ranks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
Behind us, a group of women was carrying on a conversation, criticizing a neighbor’s wife who, upon leaving Haiti, had turned from a sweet Haitian wife into a self-willed tyrant.
From "Krik? Krak!" by Edwidge Danticat
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
