judgmental
Americanadjective
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involving the use or exercise of judgment.
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tending to make quick and excessively critical judgments, especially moral ones.
to avoid a judgmental approach in dealing with divorced couples.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of judgmental
Explanation
Oddly enough, people with good judgment are not usually considered judgmental. Judgmental is a negative word to describe someone who often rushes to judgment without reason. The adjective judgmental describes someone who forms lots of opinions — usually harsh or critical ones — about lots of people. Judgmental types are not open-minded or easygoing. Judgmental has the word judge at its root, which itself is from the Latin word judicem, which also means "to judge." Judgemental (with an extra "e") is considered a legitimate variant spelling of judgmental.
Vocabulary lists containing judgmental
You Be the Judge: Jud, Jur, Jus
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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In the Mood? 100 Words to Describe Emotions
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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.
Netta Weinstein of Reading University said people should avoid becoming too judgmental about their directionless phone use - with scrolling providing relaxtion, distraction, humour or connection for some.
From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026
I ask this not because I’m being nosy or judgmental, but because it matters for what you do next with the funds.
From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026
Yes, the full-size blender can feel like a production — heavy, loud, vaguely judgmental when left unwashed in the sink.
From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026
It’s a treat to watch the magnetic Groff trace an unlikable guy to his idealistic origins, Radcliffe’s face soften from judgmental colleague to wide-eyed hopeful and the wonderful Mendez peel back layers of unrequited love.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2025
Sure, he was stern, and sometimes judgmental, but I always felt like he meant well.
From "All American Boys" by Jason Reynolds
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.
