self-criticism
noun
self-crit·i·cism
ˌself-ˈkri-tə-ˌsi-zəm 
plural self-criticisms
: the act of or capacity for criticizing one's own faults or shortcomings
To impress friends and potential employers, avoid complimenting yourself and trying to disguise it as self-criticism.—
Shana Lebowitz
Shana Lebowitz… he's learned discipline, beneficial self-criticism … and the ability to develop a regimen in his day-to-day life.—Hillary Gavan
Hillary GavanExamples of self-criticism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton shared his optimism regarding his recent results after his recent self-criticism.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
Reframe—Smith shares the necessity of ceasing excessive self-criticism.
—Anne Sugar, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Google Gemini has a problem with self-criticism.
—Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 8 Aug. 2025
On one occasion in 1958, Zhou, after an excruciating self-criticism that lasted several hours, plaintively admitted to Xi that Mao had criticized him once again.
—Joseph Torigian, Foreign Affairs, 23 June 2025
The data bears this out for leaders, for whom the implications of excessive self-criticism can be far reaching.
—Ron Carucci, Harvard Business Review, 15 May 2025
If parents invalidate or criticize their child’s distress, that kid is more likely to react to a setback as an adult with self-criticism, rather than reflecting on what went wrong and trying to figure out the best way forward.
—Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 7 May 2025
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Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
Reframe—Smith shares the necessity of ceasing excessive self-criticism.
—Anne Sugar, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Google Gemini has a problem with self-criticism.
—Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 8 Aug. 2025
On one occasion in 1958, Zhou, after an excruciating self-criticism that lasted several hours, plaintively admitted to Xi that Mao had criticized him once again.
—Joseph Torigian, Foreign Affairs, 23 June 2025
The data bears this out for leaders, for whom the implications of excessive self-criticism can be far reaching.
—Ron Carucci, Harvard Business Review, 15 May 2025
If parents invalidate or criticize their child’s distress, that kid is more likely to react to a setback as an adult with self-criticism, rather than reflecting on what went wrong and trying to figure out the best way forward.
—Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-criticism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-criticism. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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