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criticize

[krit-uh-sahyz]
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verb (used with object), crit·i·cized, crit·i·ciz·ing.
  1. to censure or find fault with.
  2. to judge or discuss the merits and faults of: to criticize three novels in one review.
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verb (used without object), crit·i·cized, crit·i·ciz·ing.
  1. to find fault; judge unfavorably or harshly.
  2. to make judgments as to merits and faults.
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Also especially British, crit·i·cise.

Origin of criticize

First recorded in 1640–50; critic + -ize
Related formscrit·i·ciz·a·ble, adjectivecrit·i·ciz·er, nouncrit·i·ciz·ing·ly, adverbnon·crit·i·ciz·ing, adjective, nouno·ver·crit·i·cize, verb, o·ver·crit·i·cized, o·ver·crit·i·ciz·ing.pre·crit·i·cize, verb (used with object), pre·crit·i·cized, pre·crit·i·ciz·ing.re·crit·i·cize, verb (used with object), re·crit·i·cized, re·crit·i·ciz·ing.un·crit·i·ciz·a·ble, adjectiveun·crit·i·ciz·a·bly, adverbun·crit·i·cized, adjectiveun·crit·i·ciz·ing, adjectiveun·crit·i·ciz·ing·ly, adverbwell-crit·i·cized, adjective

Synonyms

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1. condemn, blame. 2. appraise, evaluate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for criticising

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Instead of criticising he has in most cases merely described.

  • What right has she, I want to know, to be criticising Sidney Baumann's people?

    From Place to Place

    Irvin S. Cobb

  • They naturally fell to discussing the men, and to criticising their dancing.

    Novel Notes

    Jerome K. Jerome

  • The just ground for criticising him is, not that he attempted to do this, but that he faltered by the way.

    The Story of the Mormons

    William Alexander Linn

  • On the whole, they refrained from criticising modern times or from exulting their own.

    Virgin Soil

    Ivan S. Turgenev

British Dictionary definitions for criticising

criticize

criticise

verb
  1. to judge (something) with disapproval; censure
  2. to evaluate or analyse (something)
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Derived Formscriticizable or criticisable, adjectivecriticizer or criticiser, nouncriticizingly or criticisingly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for criticising

criticize

v.

1640s, "to pass judgment on something" (usually unfavorable), from critic + -ize. Meaning "to discuss critically" is from 1660s; that of "to censure" is from 1704. Related: Criticized; criticizing.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper