criticize
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
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to find fault; judge unfavorably or harshly.
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to make judgments as to merits and faults.
verb
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to judge (something) with disapproval; censure
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to evaluate or analyse (something)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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criticizernoun
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overcriticizeverb
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precriticizeverb (used with object)
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recriticizeverb (used with object)
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criticizableadjective
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noncriticizingadjective
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uncriticizableadjective
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uncriticizedadjective
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uncriticizingadjective
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well-criticizedadjective
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criticizinglyadverb
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uncriticizablyadverb
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uncriticizinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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criticizesimple
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criticizessimple
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have criticizedperfect
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has criticizedperfect
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am criticizingprogressive
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are criticizingprogressive
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is criticizingprogressive
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have been criticizingperfect progressive
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has been criticizingperfect progressive
Past
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criticizedsimple
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had criticizedperfect
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was criticizingprogressive
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were criticizingprogressive
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had been criticizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of criticize
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.
Vocabulary lists containing criticize
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 3
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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 2
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The New SAT: The Language of the Test
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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.
See Examples For:
In a Depression-era bit set at a soup kitchen, you know he’ll be attacked for seeming to cut the line — “chat cuts” is the Davidean phrase — and that he’ll criticize the soup.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson used her concurrence to criticize Bruen and suggest that the court should eventually return to a more traditional means-end approach.
From Slate ● Jun. 26, 2026
“If it’s safe, how could you criticize it?”
From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026
That’s part of why some startups criticize SPVs.
From MarketWatch ● May 13, 2026
Mama had been scared folks would criticize and say the family didn’t show proper respect, not having Grandpa embalmed and not having a church funeral, and then getting up a party.
From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns
“To a four-year-old, everything Mommy does is wonderful and anyone who criticizes Mommy is bad. Grown-up love means actually understanding what you love, taking the good with the bad and helping your loved one grow.”
From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026
Yet he still believes that he’s a man of the people who should be heeded on every aspect of life, especially on how to disregard all criticism because anyone who criticizes you must be wrong.
From Slate ● Apr. 17, 2026
Mr. Epstein rightly criticizes the defensive tone that now characterizes some exchanges at White House briefings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 12, 2026
It sharply criticizes refined carbohydrates, suggesting that lower-carbohydrate diets may benefit people with chronic disease.
From Barron's ● Jan. 7, 2026
Then my daughter criticizes me as if I were not there.
From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan
After the June primary election, California elections officials were criticized for taking about a week to determine which gubernatorial and Los Angeles mayoral candidates would advance to November’s runoff.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
On the theme of Caesar salad, Nigella Lawson’s controversial recipe — which was criticized by fans and culinary professionals more than a decade ago — has earned its redemption by being timely, useful and effortless.
From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026
The Dodgers were widely criticized by fans for failing to speak out at the time.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
We criticized the legislation at the time because the compliance costs disproportionately burdened smaller businesses, and they may have contributed to consolidation in food production.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Some newspapers that initially criticized the picketers came to respect their tenacity and sincerity.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
Microsoft, which helped usher in the AI boom, is now part of a growing cohort of voices criticizing the concentration of power among a handful of AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
This way, you’re improving the process, not criticizing it.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
Lorne’s always saying everyone in Hollywood has two jobs: their own job and criticizing “SNL.”
From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026
Vance told members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet criticizing the agreement to "wake up and smell the reality," amid growing tensions between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump.
From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026
No amount of your analyzing, criticizing, judging, or hypothesizing will bring the peace you are looking for.
From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer
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.
