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   critical

   /ˈkrɪtɪkl/

   adjective

   • 1. expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgements: "I was very critical of the previous regime" Similar censoriouscondemnatorycondemningcastigatoryreprovingdenunciatorydeprecatorydisparagingdisapprovingscathingcriticizingfault-findingjudgementalnegativeunfavourableunsympathetichypercriticalultra-criticalovercriticalpedanticpettifoggingcavillingcarpingquibblingnigglingpass-remarkableinformal:nitpickinghair-splittingpickygripingbitchingbellyachingwhingeingpernicketypersnicketyrare:reprobatoryreprobativeOpposite complimentary
   • 2. expressing or involving an analysis of the merits and faults of a work of literature, music, or art: "she never won the critical acclaim she sought" Similar evaluativeanalyticanalyticalinterpretativeexpositorycommentativeexplanatoryexplicativeelucidative
   • ▪ (of a text) incorporating a detailed and scholarly analysis and commentary: "a critical edition of a Bach sonata"
   • ▪ involving the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgement: "professors often find it difficult to encourage critical thinking amongst their students"
   • 3. (of a situation or problem) having the potential to become disastrous; at a point of crisis: "the floodwaters had not receded and the situation was still critical" Similar graveseriousdangerousriskyperiloushazardousprecarioustouch-and-goin the balanceuncertaindesperatedireacutevery badlife-and-deathlife-threateninginformal:chancydiceyhairyiffydodgyarchaic, humorous:parlousperacuteprofoundrare:egregiousOpposite safe
   • ▪ extremely ill and at risk of death: "she was critical but stable in Middlesbrough General Hospital"
   • ▪ having a decisive or crucial importance in the success, failure, or existence of something: "temperature is a critical factor in successful fruit storage" Similar crucialvitalessentialof the essenceall-importantimportantof the utmost importanceof great consequencehigh-priorityparamountpre-eminentfundamentalkeypivotaldecidingdecisiveclimactericmomentousseriousurgentpressingcompellingexigentOpposite unimportant
   • 4. relating to or denoting a point of transition from one state to another: "if the density is less than a certain critical value the gravitational attraction will be too weak to halt the expansion"
   • 5. (of a nuclear reactor or fuel) maintaining a self-sustaining chain reaction: "the reactor is due to go critical in October"

   Word Origin mid 16th century (in the sense ‘relating to the crisis of a disease’): from late Latin criticus (see critic).

   Derivatives

   • 1. criticalness noun

   Scrabble Points: 12

   • C

     3

   • R

     1

   • I

     1

   • T

     1

   • I

     1

   • C

     3

   • A

     1

   • L

     1

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