criticize

American  

[krit-uh-sahyz] / ˈkrɪt əˌsaɪz /

especially British, criticise

verb (used with object)

criticized, criticizing

1. to censure or find fault with.

   Synonyms:

   blame, condemn

2. to judge or discuss the merits and faults of.

   to criticize three novels in one review.

   Synonyms:

   evaluate, appraise

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verb (used without object)

criticized, criticizing

1. to find fault; judge unfavorably or harshly.

2. to make judgments as to merits and faults.

criticize British  

/ ˈkrɪtɪˌsaɪz /

verb

1. to judge (something) with disapproval; censure

2. to evaluate or analyse (something)

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Other Word Forms

• criticizable adjective
• criticizer noun
• criticizingly adverb
• noncriticizing adjective
• overcriticize verb
• precriticize verb (used with object)
• recriticize verb (used with object)
• uncriticizable adjective
• uncriticizably adverb
• uncriticized adjective
• uncriticizing adjective
• uncriticizingly adverb
• well-criticized adjective

Etymology

Origin of criticize

First recorded in 1640–50; critic + -ize

Explanation

To criticize is to find what's wrong with something, like the improbabilities in a movie's plot line, or double standards in your father's rules. The verb criticize comes from the noun, critic, and means "to act like a critic." A critic is someone who judges, and that doesn't have to mean negative judgment (think of a glowing movie review from a movie critic), but when we use criticize we always mean finding what's wrong, instead of what's good, with something. If your friend is just learning to bake, don't criticize his first batch of burned cookies too harshly; he'll just give up.

Example Sentences

There is, in other words, much to criticize about millennial feminism, and there are many lessons to learn.

From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026

Flipping the telescope to the large end is not unique to this particular cohort, nor is it anything to criticize or demonize.

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026

“I don’t want to focus on the last pitch. ... I’m disappointed about the way that the game ended. I’m not going to criticize any of that,” Pujols said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

President Trump likes to criticize the Brics economic bloc—founded in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, and subsequently expanded to other nations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

If Helmuth were a detective, he'd arrest real criminals, not the ordinary men and women who criticize Hitler or the Nazi Party and find themselves denounced by friends and neighbors.

From "The Boy Who Dared" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Related Words

• blame
• blast
• castigate
• censure
• chastise
• chide
• condemn
• denounce
• excoriate
• reprimand