critically

[krit-ik-lee]

adverb

1. in a judgmental or disapproving manner.

   The backlash was immediate after he spoke critically of his opponent’s personal life.

2. 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.

3. to a devastating degree, leading to or reaching a crisis.

   As floodwaters rise, we are critically lacking sandbags and evacuation transport.

4. seriously or extremely, as of a gravely unstable medical condition: a critically ill pneumonia patient.

   critically injured;

   a critically ill pneumonia patient.

5. 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of critically¹

First recorded in 1645–55; critical ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

Example Sentences

Last season, almost 90% of the animals caught in NSW's nets were not target species – including 11 critically endangered, and largely docile, grey nurse sharks.

From BBC

Experts have called for urgent measures to prevent reservoirs from dropping to critically low levels.

From Los Angeles Times

Indian airlines have placed orders for some 1,900 new aircraft, a thousand of which are expected to be delivered in the next five years, making such infrastructure critically important to accommodate this new fleet.

From BBC

It is also home to critically endangered black rhinos.

From BBC

"I was haemorrhaging every couple of weeks, my iron levels were critically low and I had no energy to do anything," she said.

From BBC

Related Words

• acutely 
• badly 
• dangerously www.thesaurus.com
• extremely 
• firmly 
• markedly 
• painfully www.thesaurus.com
• seriously 
• sharply www.thesaurus.com
• sorely 
• sternly 
• strictly