CRITICIZE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does criticize mean? 

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

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

2. act as a critic

  Familiarity information: CRITICIZE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CRITICIZE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they criticize    ... he / she / it criticizes   
Past simple: criticized   
Past participle: criticized   
-ing form: criticizing   

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 "criticize" is one way to...):

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

"Criticize" entails doing...:

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

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

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

Antonym:

praise (express approval of)

Derivation:

critic (someone who frequently finds fault or makes harsh and unfair judgments)

critic (anyone who expresses a reasoned judgment of something)

critic (a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art)

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 "criticize" is one way to...):

act (discharge one's duties)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

critic (someone who frequently finds fault or makes harsh and unfair judgments)

critic (anyone who expresses a reasoned judgment of something)

critic (a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art)

 Context examples 

They might have difficulty dealing with their emotions and criticize you unfairly.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

How graciously Amy criticized the artistic parts of the story, and offered hints for a sequel, which unfortunately couldn't be carried out, as the hero and heroine were dead.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The amateurs, falling into the humour of their company, were hardly less noisy, and loudly debated the merits of the different men, criticizing their styles of fighting before their faces, and making bets upon the results of future matches.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I'm not a show, Aunty, and no one is coming to stare at me, to criticize my dress, or count the cost of my luncheon.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

You may have had a bully in your life, or you may have expected too much and overly criticized a subordinate who reports to you, perhaps because there was too much pressure on you from the top. Once Pluto and Saturn reach an apex on January 12, they will slowly begin to separate, and you will start to see this aspect decline in strength.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

So Meg gave her the easy chair and tried to entertain her, while she asked questions, criticized everything, and told stories of the people whom she knew.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Both peeped and criticized and chatted till they felt like old acquaintances.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Several young gentlemen, who had only stared at her at the other party, now not only stared, but asked to be introduced, and said all manner of foolish but agreeable things to her, and several old ladies, who sat on the sofas, and criticized the rest of the party, inquired who she was with an air of interest.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Haughty English, lively French, sober Germans, handsome Spaniards, ugly Russians, meek Jews, free-and-easy Americans, all drive, sit, or saunter here, chatting over the news, and criticizing the latest celebrity who has arrived—Ristori or Dickens, Victor Emmanuel or the Queen of the Sandwich Islands.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

"Whenever you feel like criticizing any one," he told me, "just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had."

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)