critically
Americanadverb
-
in a judgmental or disapproving manner.
The backlash was immediate after he spoke critically of his opponent’s personal life.
-
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.
-
to a devastating degree, leading to or reaching a crisis.
As floodwaters rise, we are critically lacking sandbags and evacuation transport.
-
seriously or extremely, as of a gravely unstable medical condition: a critically ill pneumonia patient.
critically injured;
a critically ill pneumonia patient.
-
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
- noncritically adverb
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.
A House of Lords report released in October found that serious waste crime was being "critically under-prioritised" and ordered a "root and branch" inquiry into how "endemic" waste crime was being tackled.
From BBC
Candida auris is especially dangerous for people who are already critically ill, leaving hospitals highly exposed to outbreaks.
From Science Daily
He blanked out his mind and refused to think critically.
From Salon
Why it’s vital: In his critically acclaimed series “BoJack Horseman,” Bob-Waksberg examines memory as a sharp edge constantly cutting down the character’s ego and self-esteem.
From Salon
A more universal way to overcome our tendency to buy things we might regret is to read reviews more critically.
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.
