CRITICISE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does criticise mean? 

• CRITICISE (verb)
  The verb CRITICISE has 2 senses:

1. find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws

2. act as a critic

  Familiarity information: CRITICISE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CRITICISE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they criticise    ... he / she / it criticises   
Past simple: criticised   
Past participle: criticised   
-ing form: criticising   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

criticise; criticize; knock; pick apart

Context example:

Don't knock the food--it's free

Hypernyms (to "criticise" is one way to...):

comment; notice; point out; remark (make or write a comment on)

"Criticise" entails doing...:

evaluate; judge; pass judgment (form a critical opinion of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "criticise"):

censure; criminate; reprimand (rebuke formally)

blast; crucify; pillory; savage (criticize harshly or violently)

admonish; reproof; reprove (take to task)

bawl out; berate; call down; call on the carpet; chew out; chew up; chide; dress down; have words; jaw; lambast; lambaste; lecture; rag; rebuke; remonstrate; reprimand; scold; take to task; trounce (censure severely or angrily)

reprehend; deplore (express strong disapproval of)

belabor; belabour (attack verbally with harsh criticism)

come down (criticize or reprimand harshly)

denounce (speak out against)

blame; find fault; pick (harass with constant criticism)

belittle; disparage; pick at (express a negative opinion of)

nitpick (be overly critical; criticize minor details)

assail; assault; attack; lash out; round; snipe (attack in speech or writing)

harsh on (criticize harshly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

criticism (a serious examination and judgment of something)

criticism (a written evaluation of a work of literature)

criticism (disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Act as a critic

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

criticise; criticize

Context example:

Those who criticize others often are not perfect, either

Hypernyms (to "criticise" is one way to...):

act (discharge one's duties)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

 Context examples 

Criticise me: does my forehead not please you?

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Mr. Darcy had at first scarcely allowed her to be pretty; he had looked at her without admiration at the ball; and when they next met, he looked at her only to criticise.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

She must not flatter herself that he thought of her dancing, but if he were criticising her behaviour, she did not feel afraid.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Aylward, who stood in the front row of the archers with Simon, big John, and others of the Company, had been criticising the proceedings from the commencement with the ease and freedom of a man who had spent his life under arms and had learned in a hard school to know at a glance the points of a horse and his rider.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It is felt that distinctness and energy may have weight in recommending the most solid truths; and besides, there is more general observation and taste, a more critical knowledge diffused than formerly; in every congregation there is a larger proportion who know a little of the matter, and who can judge and criticise.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)