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What’s the difference between criticism and critique? There’s some overlap in meaning, but they’re not the same in every situation. Criticism is most often used broadly to refer to the act of negatively criticizing someone or something (“I’m more interested in encouragement right now than criticism”) or a remark or comment that expresses disapproval (“She shared a minor criticism about the design”), while critique is a more formal word for a carefully expressed judgment, opinion, or evaluation of both the good and bad qualities of something—for example, books or movies. Thus, a critic can write a critique that may be full of criticism.
Examples of critique in a Sentence
Sandro Da Silva, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
By then, Basquiat was collaborating with Warhol and, in his paintings, honing a critique of ownership and the commodification of everyday life.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 6 Mar. 2025
Known for her more moderate politics, Slotkin has not hesitated in the past to critique her party’s messaging when necessary.
—Joey Cappelletti, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Critique.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/critique. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.
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