critical

[ krit-i-kuhl ]

adjective

1. inclined to find fault or to judge with severity, often too readily:

   Parents who are too critical make their children anxious.

   Synonyms: carping, censorious, captious, faultfinding

2. involving criticism, or skillful judgment as to truth, merit, etc.:

   The article provides a critical analysis of the Gulf War.

   Synonyms: precise, exact, judicious, discriminating

3. occupied with or skilled in criticism:

   She was one of the great critical journalists of the 20th century.

4. of or relating to critics or criticism, especially of literature, film, music, etc.:

   Critical appreciation of this author’s work has peaked in recent years.

5. providing textual variants, proposed emendations, etc.:

   The library has a new critical edition of Chaucer.

6. of the nature of a crisis; threatening a seriously bad outcome; grave:

   There was a critical shortage of food.

7. of decisive importance with respect to the outcome; crucial:

   The nation is facing a critical moment in its history.

8. essential; indispensable:

   Cocoa butter is a critical ingredient in chocolate.

9. Medicine/Medical. having unstable and abnormal vital signs and other unfavorable indicators, as loss of appetite, poor mobility, or unconsciousness:

   The patient has been upgraded from critical to stable.

10. Physics.
    1. pertaining to a state, value, or quantity at which one or more properties of a substance or system undergo a change:

       The critical temperature of benzene is 289° C.

    2. (of fissionable material) having enough mass to sustain a chain reaction:

       They told us about a lab where some plutonium went critical.

critical

/ ˈkrɪtɪkəl /

adjective

1. containing or making severe or negative judgments
2. containing careful or analytical evaluations

   a critical dissertation

3. of or involving a critic or criticism
4. of or forming a crisis; crucial; decisive

   a critical operation

5. urgently needed

   critical medical supplies

6. informal.
   so seriously injured or ill as to be in danger of dying
7. physics of, denoting, or concerned with a state in which the properties of a system undergo an abrupt change

   a critical temperature

8. go critical
   go critical (of a nuclear power station or reactor) to reach a state in which a nuclear-fission chain reaction becomes self-sustaining

Derived Forms

• ˈcritically, adverb
• ˈcriticalness, noun

Other Words From

• crit·i·cal·ly adverb
• crit·i·cal·i·ty [--krit-i-, kal, -i-tee], crit·i·cal·ness noun
• an·ti·crit·i·cal adjective
• non·crit·i·cal adjective
• pseu·do·crit·i·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of critical¹

First recorded in 1580–90; critic + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Now, “I’m more cautious and more critical of what someone’s saying in their bio,” Ogalo says, adding that any comments making light of the coronavirus are automatic left-swipes.

From Washington Post

Federal prosecutors and the FBI have accused self-identified Proud Boys of leading some of the earliest, most destructive and critical efforts to overrun police lines and break into the Capitol building.

From Washington Post

Collaboration with the Schneider Electric site analytics team was critical for measurement as well, with bounce rate and site engagement becoming key user experience measurement metrics.

From Search Engine Watch

Working as an ESPN broadcaster after 10 years coaching Kansas City, Schottenheimer had been highly critical of Snyder’s early moves as owner.

From Washington Post

The right equipment for the type of job you’re doing is critical for safety.

From Popular-Science

Dossi initially was listed in critical condition with wounds to his arm and lower back.

From The Daily Beast

Dear Thief is worthy of the abused critical adjectives philosophical, atmospheric, and masterful.

From The Daily Beast

But by the time a critical wanted poster sent via fax arrived, more than two hours elapsed.

From The Daily Beast

Truth is, no one is sure how Cuba will play in the critical swing state of Florida in 2016.

From The Daily Beast

And the actor says his childhood experience plays a critical role in his performance.

From The Daily Beast

These are few and verbal, but momentous, and were not made without consultation of many critical authorities and versions.

From Project Gutenberg

The Colonel left, and in a few days the election coming off, each candidate made his appearance at the critical German polls.

From Project Gutenberg

He was threatened with erysipelas, and there was a rather critical inflammation of the left eye.

From Project Gutenberg

Later on he became intensely critical of his own work, and finally bought up all the copies he could lay hands on and burnt them!

From Project Gutenberg

“I thought she wos wery plump, and vell made,” said Mr. Weller, with a critical air.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• crucial
• dangerous
• decisive
• dire
• integral
• perilous
• pivotal
• precarious
• risky
• serious
• significant
• strategic
• urgent
• vital