Criticize Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms 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

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)

"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

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

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.

Unlike some of the candidates, Raman has not publicly criticized Bass about the city’s preparation for, or response to, the disaster.

From Los Angeles Times

Many potential jurors criticized Facebook's early days -- it was designed as a platform for college students to rate women's looks -- and cited the Cambridge Analytica privacy breach of 2018.

From Barron's

It may be a thrill show and a shallow endorphin rush, but the one thing that it isn’t is journalism, which we still happily criticize.

From Salon

In most nomination fights there are plenty of good-faith policy or philosophical reasons to criticize a president’s pick.

From The Wall Street Journal

Along with complaints about the building’s size, the Geffen Galleries’ heavy use of concrete had been criticized as an impractical choice for hanging art.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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

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.