Critical Definition & Meaning

critical
adjective
  1. marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws; "a critical attitude"
  2. at or of a point at which a property or phenomenon suffers an abrupt change especially having enough mass to sustain a chain reaction; "a critical temperature of water is 100 degrees C--its boiling point at standard atmospheric pressure"; "critical mass"; "go critical"
  3. characterized by careful evaluation and judgment; "a critical reading"; "a critical dissertation"; "a critical analysis of Melville's writings"
  4. urgently needed; absolutely necessary; "a critical element of the plan"; "critical medical supplies"; "vital for a healthy society"; "of vital interest"
  5. forming or having the nature of a turning point or crisis; "a critical point in the campaign"; "the critical test"
  6. being in or verging on a state of crisis or emergency; "a critical shortage of food"; "a critical illness"; "an illness at the critical stage"
  7. of or involving or characteristic of critics or criticism; "critical acclaim"

Synonyms for critical

acute adj

having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course; "acute appendicitis

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captious adj

tending to find and call attention to faults; "a captious pedant"; "an excessively demanding and faultfinding tutor"

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carping noun

persistent petty and unjustified criticism

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censorious adj

harshly critical or expressing censure; "was censorious of petty failings"

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crucial adj

of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis; "a crucial moment in his career"; "a crucial election

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dangerous adj

involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm; "a dangerous criminal"; "a dangerous bridge

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decisive adj

determining or having the power to determine an outcome; "cast the decisive vote

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desperate adj

arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope; "a despairing view of the world situation

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dire adj

fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless; "a desperate illness

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discriminative adj

capable of making fine distinctions expressing careful judgment; "discriminative censure

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"Critical" in song lyrics

See how critical is used in real songs:

  • "style, empirical, lyrical, it's critical"
    3rd Bass — Wordz of Wizdom
  • "Times is gettin' critical"
    51.50 — Steady Stayin' Paid '95
  • "Comprehension is critical"
    7L & Esoteric f/ Beyonder — Axe Hurlers

Words that rhyme with critical

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Usage tips for "critical"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "critical" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for critical to find words that pair well.

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♫ Rhymes with critical ↔ Synonyms for critical 🔬 Words containing critical

Frequently asked questions

What does critical mean?
marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws; "a critical attitude" at or of a point at which a property or phenomenon suffers an abrupt change especially having enough mass to sustain a chain reaction; "a critical temperature of water is 100 degrees C--its boiling point at standard atmospheric pressure"; "critical mass"; "go critical" characterized by careful evaluation and judgment; "a critical reading"; "a critical dissertation
What part of speech is critical?
Critical is an adjective.
How many definitions does critical have?
Critical has 7 definitions across 1 part of speech (adjective).

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