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critical thinking
logical thinking
strategic thinking
crucial thinking
rational thinking
analytical thinking
a critical point
a crucial point
a vital point
a climactic point
an analytical point
a climatic point
critical importance
crucial importance
major importance
significant importance
essential importance
extreme importance
a critical review
a skeptical review
a careful review
a cynical review
a negative review
an analytical review
a critical period
an important period
a significant period
a definitive period
an essential period
a pivotal period

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective critical contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of critical are captious, carping, censorious, faultfinding, and hypercritical. While all these words mean "inclined to look for and point out faults and defects," critical may also imply an effort to see a thing clearly and truly in order to judge it fairly.

a critical essay

When might captious be a better fit than critical?

While the synonyms captious and critical are close in meaning, captious suggests a readiness to detect trivial faults or raise objections on trivial grounds.

a captious critic

Where would carping be a reasonable alternative to critical?

The synonyms carping and critical are sometimes interchangeable, but carping implies an ill-natured or perverse picking of flaws.

a carping editorial

When could censorious be used to replace critical?

The words censorious and critical can be used in similar contexts, but censorious implies a disposition to be severely critical and condemnatory.

the censorious tone of the review

When can faultfinding be used instead of critical?

Although the words faultfinding and critical have much in common, faultfinding implies a querulous or exacting temperament.

a faultfinding reviewer

When is it sensible to use hypercritical instead of critical?

The words hypercritical and critical are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hypercritical suggests a tendency to judge by unreasonably strict standards.

hypercritical disparagement of other people's work

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of critical The European Union’s response could be critical in shaping the economic impact of the tariff conflict, Colijn explained. Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2025 Washington demanded that countries steer away from China without offering any meaningful economic or political alternatives, essentially asking them to forgo billions of dollars’ worth of critical investments and strategic partnerships while receiving nothing in return. Matias Spektor, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2025 At the Smithsonian American Art Museum, there are still works critical of American history—including a wonderful Kay WalkingStick painting that overlays the Rio Grande with patterns derived from Pueblo pots, asserting an Indigenous presence in a land sometimes denied to Native people. Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 1 Apr. 2025 For leaders this serves as a critical warning: the relentless pursuit of productivity without regard for the multifaceted nature of human identity can lead to a workforce that is disengaged, unfulfilled and ultimately less innovative. Benjamin Laker, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for critical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for critical
Adjective
  • Viewers who haven’t recently engaged with a particular channel will no longer receive push notifications as part of the experiment, though notifications will still be available via the notification inbox in the YouTube app.
    Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Cool, light-medium grays, in particular, have a way of instantly aging bathrooms, and according to Gabriela Eisenhart, founder and principal designer of Silo Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, standard shaker-style doors just add to the vibe.
    Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • But starting last year, states were permitted to use the funds for a broader range of urgent public health needs, including monitoring and testing for other respiratory viruses, providing vaccines for children and uninsured adults and strengthening preparedness for future health emergencies.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
  • In Connecticut and across the country, suicide by gun accounts for over half of all gun deaths and access to firearms triples the risk of suicide, a stark reminder of the urgent need for mental health services.
    Letters to the Editor, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • My previous post, Being Sad Is Expensive: How Your Money-Mindset Matters showed how emotions play a crucial role in shaping financial behavior.
    Shane Enete, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
  • Ask Chris Richards, who credits a small but crucial collective upward shift at Crystal Palace in the second half of the season for reviving the club’s hopes of meaningful progress.
    Greg O'Keeffe, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Forbes Daily: Join over 1 million Forbes Daily subscribers and get our best stories, exclusive reporting and essential analysis of the day’s news in your inbox every weekday.
    Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Vogue Daily newsletter Get essential fashion, style, and tips, in your inbox.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • By reducing latency and enabling real-time decision-making, these systems ensure that city services remain nimble under the most demanding conditions.
    Cathy Hackl, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Everest's unpredictable weather and difficult breathing conditions make this one of the most physically and mentally demanding climbs in the world.
    Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Gian Cho, executive director of the Belize National Forensic Science Service, confirmed in a toxicology report obtained by the outlets that the three women died of acute pulmonary edema, which was triggered by excessive carbon monoxide exposure.
    Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Lab reports confirmed the child was suffering from an acute intoxication due to an exposure to methamphetamines or other stimulant. ...
    Mark Price, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Separate deals between Russia and Ukraine brokered by the U.S. are expected to fully reopen a key trade route but could also play into the hands of Russia whose navy has been chased out of Crimea thanks to Kyiv's effective drone and missile strikes.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Casting is another key ingredient for the Core Four’s success formula, and it is typically handled by casting expert Orla Maxwell.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • To achieve those cuts and abide by a fiscal solvency plan entered into with the Contra Costa County Office of Education, the district has argued staffing cuts are necessary.
    Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Obviously, a body's oxygen demand increases with activity, so specific training is necessary to lengthen that skill.
    Skyler Caruso, People.com, 1 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Critical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/critical. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

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