critical

adjective

ˈkri-ti-kəl How to pronounce critical (audio)
Definition of criticalnext
1
as in particular
given to making or expressing unfavorable judgments about things adults tend to be critical of teenagers' taste in music and movies

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in urgent
needing immediate attention this problem isn't critical, so we can go home now and tend to it in the morning

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in crucial
of the greatest possible importance this is the critical exam that will largely determine your college career

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4
as in essential
impossible to do without critical information for an informed medical diagnosis

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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critical thinking
logical thinking
strategic thinking
crucial thinking
rational thinking
analytical thinking
a critical point
a crucial point
a vital point
a climactic point
an analytical point
a climatic point
critical importance
crucial importance
major importance
significant importance
essential importance
extreme importance
a critical review
a skeptical review
a careful review
a cynical review
a negative review
an analytical review
a critical period
an important period
a significant period
a definitive period
an essential period
a pivotal period

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective critical contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of critical are captious, carping, censorious, faultfinding, and hypercritical. While all these words mean "inclined to look for and point out faults and defects," critical may also imply an effort to see a thing clearly and truly in order to judge it fairly.

a critical essay

When might captious be a better fit than critical?

While the synonyms captious and critical are close in meaning, captious suggests a readiness to detect trivial faults or raise objections on trivial grounds.

a captious critic

Where would carping be a reasonable alternative to critical?

The synonyms carping and critical are sometimes interchangeable, but carping implies an ill-natured or perverse picking of flaws.

a carping editorial

When could censorious be used to replace critical?

The words censorious and critical can be used in similar contexts, but censorious implies a disposition to be severely critical and condemnatory.

the censorious tone of the review

When can faultfinding be used instead of critical?

Although the words faultfinding and critical have much in common, faultfinding implies a querulous or exacting temperament.

a faultfinding reviewer

When is it sensible to use hypercritical instead of critical?

The words hypercritical and critical are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hypercritical suggests a tendency to judge by unreasonably strict standards.

hypercritical disparagement of other people's work

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of critical With key players sidelined, Sacramento will now have to lean heavily on its depth during a critical stretch of the season, but at the worst possible time. —Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025 This capability is particularly useful for studying critical environments like eelgrass beds, which support marine biodiversity. —Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025 Yelp’s general counsel noted that without Section 230, platforms may feel forced to remove legitimate negative reviews, depriving users of critical information. —Daryl Lim, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2025 Addressing Root Causes The initiative comes at a critical moment. —Melissa Noel, Essence, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for critical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for critical
  1. particular
  2. urgent
  3. crucial
  4. essential
  5. demanding
  6. acute
  7. key
  8. necessary
Adjective
  • The final contestants from Group C — Nessy, Mad Scientist Monster, and Yorkie — did not follow that particular decades trend, opting to jump around more in time instead.
    — Lauren Huff, EW.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Javadi, in particular, seems unsure whether this experience has discouraged her from pursuing a career in emergency medicine.
    — Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of particular
Adjective
  • This highlights the urgent need for tailored marketing support.
    — Chris Gallagher, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The net result is a flurry of headlines and viral social media posts followed by an urgent platform update.
    — Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of urgent
Adjective
  • With a constant wave of new competition flooding shelves—and social media—understanding your consumers' needs and habits has never been more crucial.
    — Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • When the battles are this close, being in the right place at the right time is crucial.
    — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of crucial
Adjective
  • Since 2014, the ACL Hall of Fame has honored artists who have played an essential role in the series’ half-century as a premier supporter of top-shelf music.
    — Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Forbes Daily: Join over 1 million Forbes Daily subscribers and get our best stories, exclusive reporting and essential analysis of the day’s news in your inbox every weekday.
    — Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of essential
Adjective
  • In the last two decades, the number of hospitals and diagnostic centers has already increased sixfold, and there’s room for many more, particularly those that value quality, which patients are increasingly demanding and becoming aware of.
    — Sylvana Quader Sinha, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • In making such a claim, Bonhoeffer moved the aim of conscience away from obedience to rational principles and to the more demanding and concrete love for God and one’s living, breathing, suffering neighbor.
    — David DeCosse, Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of demanding
Adjective
  • The agency recalled that between 2022 and 2024, around 60% of annual admissions for severe acute malnutrition occurred during the rainy season, meaning that up to 462,000 children could be affected this year if the trend holds.
    — Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The acute need for companies with this level of in-depth warmth and empathy for their clients drives ITS to expand its horizon.
    — William Mullane, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of acute
Adjective
  • But competition is fierce, and differentiation will be key.
    — Ethan Stone, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • However, slowing the progression of vision loss is key.
    — Heidi Cope, Health, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of key
Adjective
  • These companies feel like necessary building blocks of modern existence.
    — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025
  • But the success of any of NASA’s plans depends on having the money and resources necessary to carry them out.
    — Wendy Whitman Cobb, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of necessary

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critic
critical
critically
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Cite this Entry

“Critical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/critical. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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