critically
Americanadverb
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in a judgmental or disapproving manner.
The backlash was immediate after he spoke critically of his opponent’s personal life.
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in a manner involving skillful analysis of merit, as of a decision or work of art or literature: critically admired novels.
a critically sanctioned project;
critically admired novels.
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to a devastating degree, leading to or reaching a crisis.
As floodwaters rise, we are critically lacking sandbags and evacuation transport.
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seriously or extremely, as of a gravely unstable medical condition: a critically ill pneumonia patient.
critically injured;
a critically ill pneumonia patient.
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with decisive or essential importance with respect to the outcome; crucially; indispensably.
The success of this experiment critically relies on optimal weather.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of critically
First recorded in 1645–55; critical ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )
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.
It marks Rock’s follow-up to Top Five, his critically acclaimed 2014 rom-com.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
"She's still in the hospital on a ventilator, critically ill," Pike's attorney Stephen Ferrell said on CNN.
From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026
Pike remained critically ill and was being treated at a Nashville-area hospital.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
The researchers also formally described Anchiale mabiensis, a new species found in Queensland's critically endangered Mabi rainforest on the Atherton Tablelands.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026
Carrie stopped me on the stairs, looked at me critically, then took my arm and led me back down and out to her cabin.
From "Kindred" by Octavia Butler
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.
