criticize

/ˈkrɪtɪsaɪz/

Say it: KRIT-uh-size

1. verb To indicate the faults of someone or something in a disapproving way.
He criticized his son for being lazy and not helping around the house.
2. verb To form and express a judgment on a literary or artistic work.
The professor's lecture criticized the author's use of symbolism in the novel.

📖 Seen in the wild

It is easy to criticize others, but harder to offer constructive solutions.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ criticize in a sentence

The new tax plan was heavily criticized by economists from across the political spectrum.
It's easy to criticize the referee's decision from the stands.
In our workshop, we learn to give feedback without harshly criticizing each other's work.
She criticized the film for its predictable plot and one-dimensional characters.
Rather than criticize my methods, why don't you suggest a better way to do it?
The report criticized the government for its slow response to the crisis.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

censure condemn denounce pan fault reprimand knock slam

censure · more formal, implying a strong or official condemnation.

condemn · stronger, suggesting severe disapproval, often on moral grounds.

denounce · involves criticizing something forcefully and publicly.

pan · informal, used for giving a very negative review to a performance or creative work.

Opposites: praise, commend, applaud, compliment, approve

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'criticize' traces back to the Greek 'kritikos', meaning 'able to make judgments'. This came from 'krites', a judge. While its origins are in neutral evaluation, the English verb has evolved to primarily mean finding fault, making its modern usage feel more negative than its roots might suggest.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

harshly criticizepublicly criticizecriticize a decisioncriticize someone forwidely criticized

While 'criticize' can mean a neutral evaluation, it almost always carries a negative connotation of fault-finding in modern use. For a more neutral or academic analysis, the verb 'critique' is preferred. If your intent is to be helpful, it's wise to qualify your statement by offering 'constructive criticism' to avoid sounding purely negative.

Word family: critic, criticism, critical, critique

💬 Quick answers

What does it mean to criticize?

To criticize means to point out the faults of a person or thing, usually with a tone of disapproval. It involves judging something or someone unfavorably.

What is the difference between 'criticize' and 'critique'?

'Criticize' most often implies finding fault and carries a negative connotation. 'Critique' is more formal and neutral, referring to a detailed and balanced analysis of something, such as a piece of art or a scientific paper.

Is 'criticize' a negative word?

Yes, 'criticize' usually has a negative connotation because it focuses on faults. To make it positive, people often use the phrase 'constructive criticism' to specify that the feedback is intended to be helpful.

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