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- pronunciation:
- krI
tih
k
 l
- features:
- Word Combinations (adjective), Word Parts
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| definition 1: |
tending to make severe judgments or to find fault.
Her mother-in-law was so critical that it seemed impossible please her.Many citizens became critical of the government and demanded reforms.- synonyms:
- censorious, faultfinding, harsh, hypercritical, severe, strict
- antonyms:
- complimentary, uncritical
- similar words:
- demanding, fastidious, meticulous, negative, niggling, picky, rigid, rigorous, stringent, unfavorable
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| definition 2: |
expressing a negative judgement.
The review had some good things to say about the restaurant, but most of its comments were critical.Her professor's critical remarks about her paper came as a disappointing surprise to her.- antonyms:
- complimentary, laudatory
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| definition 3: |
characterized by or involving careful and exact analysis and evaluation.
Scientific research requires critical thinking.- synonyms:
- analytic, discriminating, evaluative, investigative
- similar words:
- discerning, exact, meticulous, painstaking, scrupulous, serious, systematic
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| definition 4: |
of the nature of a crisis; being at the very highest point of danger but still allowing the possibility of a positive outcome.
She's in the hospital and her condition is considered critical.- synonyms:
- dangerous, grave, touch-and-go
- antonyms:
- mild
- similar words:
- acute, desperate, dire, hazardous, perilous, risky, serious, uncertain, vital
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| definition 5: |
extremely important.
It is critical that you understand these instructions; making a mistake could have dangerous consequences.The testimony of this witness is critical to the case for the defense.- synonyms:
- crucial, essential, grave, pivotal, vital
- antonyms:
- unimportant
- similar words:
- fatal, fundamental, imperative, important, indispensable, momentous, necessary, significant
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| definition 6: |
in physics, of a state just preceding a nuclear reaction.
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| related words: |
analytic, biting, captious, essential, explosive, hopeless, incisive, instant, key, main, nasty, pressing, querulous, sharp, urgent |
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| derivation: |
critically (adv.) |
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