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to criticize

to criticize

701 3.3
To say what is wrong with someone or something
  • verb
  • /ˈkrɪtɪˌsaɪz/
translation icon : criticar
  • Members of his own party are criticizing our stance on Ukraine.
  • criticize the government
  • criticize government policy
  • harshly criticize

We we need to approach criticizing friends in the right way.

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Examples

  • The movie critics criticize films that don't meet their high standards.

  • It's a lot easier to criticize than it is to create.

  • And they will criticize people for having an opinion.

  • Why should one criticize you for being worried?

  • Now, some folks criticize my choices for not being bold enough.

  • Obama has certainly not been reticent to criticize what he sees as the failures on the Israeli side.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Teachers often criticize students' essays to help them improve their writing skills.

  • It is easy to criticize others, but harder to acknowledge your own mistakes.

Synonyms

to knock
vsto criticize
  • Informal
593 5.3

To criticize someone or something without a good reason

is a considered pointing out of faults rather than casual putdowns
to condemn
vsto criticize
298 4.0

To strongly criticize someone or something publicly

is milder usually pointing out faults without extreme public blame
to denounce
vsto criticize
  • Formal
115 6.8

Publicly criticize someone or something strongly

is general expression of disapproval not always formal and public
to disapprove
vsto criticize
94 2.9

To think something is wrong or bad and show it

is about pointing out faults directly rather than only holding a negative view
to fault
vsto criticize
50 4.3

To blame someone for a mistake or problem

is to point out faults without necessarily assigning blame
to critique
vsto criticize
48 6.7

To give an opinion about a work such as a book or film to show its good and bad points

is mainly about showing disapproval rather than balanced evaluation of merits
to denigrate
vsto criticize
48 7.8

To say bad things about someone without a good reason to make them seem less important

is pointing out faults without the unfair aim to damage reputation
to pass judgment
vsto criticize
37 5.2

Form an opinion about someone or something, often a critical one

is focused on pointing out faults rather than only forming an opinion
to chastise
vsto criticize
  • Formal
33 7.6

To scold someone strongly for doing something wrong

is a general showing of faults rather than formal severe rebuke
to reprimand
vsto criticize
  • Formal
33 6.1

To tell someone they did something wrong, usually by a person in charge

is ordinary pointing out of faults without formal authority
to decry
vsto criticize
  • Formal
31 7.7

To say in public that something is bad or wrong

is general negative comment and may not be expressed publicly
to disparage
vsto criticize
28 7.7

To speak badly about someone or something to show little respect

is neutral pointing out of faults not focused on disrespect
to tear apart
vsto criticize
  • Informal
21 5.6

To criticize someone or something harshly

is milder pointing out of faults that does not attack strongly
to find fault
vsto criticize
15 4.4

To say something is wrong or not good, often about small things

is an occasional act of pointing out faults rather than a habit
to badmouth
vsto criticize
  • Informal
15 7.6

To speak badly about someone behind their backs

is pointing out faults without malice or personal spite
to pick apart
vsto criticize
  • Informal
14 5.2

To find faults in ideas or work by pointing out small problems

is general disapproval rather than a detailed close examination
to lambast
vsto criticize
12 8.2

To criticize someone very strongly and angrily

is less angry and usually a plain pointing out of problems
to pan
vsto criticize
  • Literature
8 6.4

To strongly criticize something in a review

is general expression of faults not specific to reviews
to reproach
vsto criticize
8 6.5

To tell someone you are disappointed in what they did

is general disapproval aimed at faults without personal disappointment
to poke holes in
vsto criticize
  • Informal
5 4.3

To find and show weak points in an idea or plan

is broader disapproval not limited to testing arguments or ideas
to reprove
vsto criticize
5 7.3

Tell someone gently that what they did was wrong

is broader, pointing faults without necessarily aiming to correct gently
to deprecate
vsto criticize
  • Formal
1 7.6

Criticize someone or something, often in public

is used in both private and public situations rather than mainly in public
to call (someone) out
vsto criticize
  • Informal
1 5.8

Tell someone publicly that they did something wrong

is general disapproval rather than a public challenge or confrontation
to shoot holes in
vsto criticize
  • Informal
1 7.2

To find and point out weak points in an idea, plan or argument

is general pointing out faults not only at arguments or ideas
to pillorize
vsto criticize
  • US
9.9

To say bad things about someone in public to make them feel ashamed

is an expression of faults without aiming to publicly shame
to put the bad mouth on
vsto criticize
  • Informal
9.8

Speak badly about someone or something to other people

is a neutral expression of faults rather than hostile talk
to animadvert
vsto criticize
  • Archaic
9.9

To criticize someone or something sharply in public

is simple expression of disapproval not necessarily formal or public

Antonyms

331 1.0

To tell a person that you admire or approve of them

How Harsh

to condemn
298 4.0
to criticize
701 3.3
to point out
1.8
to note
951 1.6

Surface Forms

criticize infinitive
criticized past
criticized past participle
criticizing present participle
criticizes third person singular

Morphology

criticize = critic (transparent) = critic + ize

Formed by the noun 'critic' plus the productive verb-forming suffix '-ize'; meaning 'to act as a critic' or 'to express criticism' is directly derived.

Etymology

Criticize comes from an old Greek word kritikos meaning 'able to judge' and from krinein meaning 'to decide'. You can see the same root in critic and critical, so to criticize is to 'judge' by pointing out faults, which explains its modern meaning of saying what is wrong with someone or something.