hypercritical
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of hypercritical
Explanation
Hypercritical describes someone who is full of complaints. That friend you love but avoid going to restaurant with because she thinks the burger is slightly cold, the fork's not shiny enough, the bread too bready? Definitely hypercritical. Make sure you don't mistake hypercritical for hypocritical. If you've ever felt hyper, you know it means "too much energy." So someone who is hypercritical puts too much energy into criticizing and judging. But if you're hypocritical, it means you don't live by the high standards you claim you have. Unfortunately, that means it's possible for a person to be both hypercritical and hypocritical.
Vocabulary lists containing hypercritical
Dear Martin
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Lincoln Inaugural Address (March 1861)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Clean Getaway
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
The only blot on Farhan's copybook - and it may feel hypercritical to highlight it - was an apparent lack of match awareness when he reached three figures off 59 balls.
From BBC ● Feb. 28, 2026
Clarke Schmidt said it was probably one of the team’s better flights as far as turbulence goes, but that his teammates were hypercritical on the landing a little bit.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 25, 2023
Just understand, your words are no match for my evidence,” he said in his February speech in Iowa, referencing some of the more hypercritical social media backlash he received after the 2021 address.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 12, 2023
Sometimes you’re hypercritical of the things that maybe you do actually want to do.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2022
And both sides of the river were, ultimately, hypercritical.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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.
