criticize
Formscriticizes, criticizing, criticized
UK spellingcriticise
- 1To say what is wrong with someone or something.
Like pointing at a stain on someone's shirt so everyone notices it.
People often criticize the mayor for raising taxes.
Don't criticize her cooking before you have tried it.
Similarcensure
Oppositepraise, commend, applaud, compliment
Note
- 2To judge how good or bad something is by looking at it carefully.
Like a judge at a fair tasting each pie to decide which is best and why.
Students learn to criticize a poem by studying its words and rhythm.
A good editor will criticize your essay fairly, noting its strengths and weaknesses.
Similarjudge, appraise, censure
Note
Use it in a sentence
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Origin
From critic plus -ize. Critic comes from a Greek word meaning able to judge, from a word for judgement.