Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense criticizes, present participle criticizing, past tense, past participle criticizedregional note: in BRIT, also use criticise
verb
If you criticize someone or something, you express your disapproval of them by saying what you think is wrong with them.
His mother had rarely criticized him or any of her children. [VERB noun]
The minister criticised the police for failing to come up with any leads. [VERB noun + for]
The regime has been harshly criticized for serious human rights violations. [V n for n/-ing]
Synonyms: find fault with, censure, disapprove of, knock [informal] More Synonyms of criticize
More Synonyms of criticize
criticize in British English
or criticise (ˈkrɪtɪˌsaɪz)
verb
1.
to judge (something) with disapproval; censure
2.
to evaluate or analyse (something)
Derived forms
criticizable (ˈcritiˌcizable) or criticisable (ˈcritiˌcisable)
adjective
criticizer (ˈcritiˌcizer) or criticiser (ˈcritiˌciser)
noun
criticizingly (ˈcritiˌcizingly) or criticisingly (ˈcritiˌcisingly)
adverb
criticize in American English
(ˈkrɪtəˌsaɪz)
verb intransitive, verb transitiveWord forms: ˈcritiˌcized or ˈcritiˌcizing
1.
to analyze and judge as a critic
2.
to judge disapprovingly; find fault (with); censure
SYNONYMY NOTE: criticize, in this comparison, is the general term for finding fault with or disapproving ofa person or thing; , reprehend suggests sharp or severe disapproval, generally of faults, errors, etc. rather thanof persons; , blame stresses the fixing of responsibility for an error, fault, etc.; , censure implies the expression of severe criticism or disapproval by a person in authorityor in a position to pass judgment; , condemn, denounce both imply an emphatic pronouncement of blame or guilt, , condemn suggesting the rendering of a judicial decision, and , denounce, public accusation against persons or their acts
OPPOSITE: praise
Derived forms
criticizable (ˈcritiˌcizable)
adjective
criticizer (ˈcritiˌcizer)
noun
Examples of 'criticize' in a sentence
criticize
Memoirs are often criticized for being excessively exhibitionist and insufficiently insightful.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
At the same time he is often criticized for undermining his creative gifts through political posturing.
The Times Literary Supplement (2008)
It is also criticized for its inability to react swiftly to transitory opportunities and to sponsor unconventional programs.
Geoffrey A. Moore INSIDE THE TORNADO: MARKETING STRATEGIES FROM SILICON VALLEY'S CUTTING EDGE (2001)
The Act has been widely criticized on a number of grounds.
Cloke, Paul J (ed) Rural Land-Use Planning in Developed Nations (1989)
Those who try to get patients to understand how their own actions have contributed to illness are often criticized for "blaming the victim.
Siegel, Bernie S. (MD) Love, Medicine and Miracles (1990)
Isn't it also interesting that these same pastors often criticize their own predecessors for behaving in a similar manner?
Christianity Today (2000)
He also criticized racial theories.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
It is often criticized for its aggressive behaviour towards visitors, and male dogs can get out of hand if not strictly controlled.
Standen, Chris Superdog! Action plans that work for a happy and well-behaved pet (1990)
They would also criticize a lot, and it was especially those who were a bit shy who had to bear the brunt.
Vera Peiffer POSITIVELY FEARLESS: Breaking free of the fears that hold you back (2001)
Quotations
To criticize is to appreciate, to appropriate, to take intellectual possession, to establish in fine a relation with the criticized thing and to make its ownHenry JamesWhat Maisie Knew
There is so much good in the worst of us And so much bad in the best of us That it hardly becomes any of us To talk about the rest of usAnon.
People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones
In other languages
criticize
British English: criticize /ˈkrɪtɪˌsaɪz/ VERB
If you criticize someone or something, you express your disapproval of them by saying what you think is wrong with them.
His mother rarely criticized him.
American English: criticize
Arabic: يَنْتَقِدُ
Brazilian Portuguese: criticar
Chinese: 批评
Croatian: kritizirati
Czech: kritizovat
Danish: kritisere
Dutch: bekritiseren
European Spanish: criticar
Finnish: arvostella kritisoida
French: critiquer
German: kritisieren
Greek: επικρίνω
Italian: criticare
Japanese: 批判する
Korean: 비평하다
Norwegian: kritisere
Polish: skrytykować
European Portuguese: criticar
Romanian: a critica
Russian: осуждать
Latin American Spanish: criticar
Swedish: kritisera
Thai: วิจารณ์
Turkish: eleştirmek
Ukrainian: критикувати
Vietnamese: phê phán
Chinese translation of 'criticize'
criticize
(ˈkrɪtɪsaɪz)
vt
批评(評) (pīpíng)
to criticize sb for (doing) sth批评(評)某人(做)某事 (pīpíng mǒurén (zuò) mǒushì)
1 (verb)
Definition
to find fault with
His mother had rarely criticized him or any of her children.
Synonyms
find fault with
censure
I would not presume to censure him for his views.
disapprove of
knock (informal)
I'm not knocking them: if they want to do it, it's up to them.
blast
They have blasted the report.
pan (informal)
His first movie was panned by the critics.
condemn
Political leaders united yesterday to condemn the latest wave of violence.
slam (slang)
The director slammed the claims as an outrageous lie.
flame (informal)
carp
He has many detractors who carp at his old-fashioned style.
put down
slate (informal)
Slated by critics at the time, the film has since become a classic.
have a go (at) (informal)
throw shade (at) (slang)
disparage
his tendency to disparage literature
tear into (informal)
diss (slang)
nag at
lambast(e)
roast (informal)
She was roasted by the critics.
pick holes in
excoriate (literary)
pick to pieces
give (someone or something) a bad press
animadvert on or upon
pass strictures upon
nit-pick (informal)
Opposites
praise
, compliment,
commend
,
laud (literary)
,
extol
,
big up (slang, mainly Caribbean)
2 (verb)
Definition
to analyse (something)
Synonyms
analyse
This book teaches you to analyse causes of stress in your life.
judge
It will take a few more years to judge the impact of these ideas.
review
I see that no papers have reviewed my book.
assess
The test was to assess aptitude rather than academic achievement.
evaluate
Trained nurses are required to evaluate the patients' individual needs.
appraise
Many companies were prompted to appraise their recruitment policies.
comment upon
pass judgment on
give an opinion
Quotations
To criticize is to appreciate, to appropriate, to take intellectual possession, to establish in fine a relation with the criticized thing and to make its own [Henry James – What Maisie Knew]There is so much good in the worst of us And so much bad in the best of us That it hardly becomes any of us To talk about the rest of us [Anon.]
proverb
People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones
Additional synonyms
in the sense of appraise
Definition
to assess the worth, value, or quality of
Many companies were prompted to appraise their recruitment policies.
Synonyms
assess,
judge,
review,
estimate,
survey,
price,
rate,
value,
evaluate,
inspect,
gauge,
size up (informal),
eye up,
assay,
recce (slang)
in the sense of assess
Definition
to judge the worth or importance of
The test was to assess aptitude rather than academic achievement.