criticism

noun

crit·​i·​cism ˈkri-tə-ˌsi-zəm How to pronounce criticism (audio)
1
a
: the act of criticizing usually unfavorably
seeking encouragement rather than criticism
b
: a critical observation or remark
an unfair criticism
had a minor criticism of the design
c
2
: the art of evaluating or analyzing works of art or literature
also : writings expressing such evaluation or analysis
an anthology of literary criticism
3
: the scientific investigation of literary documents (such as the Bible) in regard to such matters as origin, text, composition, or history

Examples of criticism in a Sentence

There was much public criticism directed at the senator. In this job you need to be able to take criticism. I asked my sister for some constructive criticism of my essay before I tried to revise it. I had one minor criticism about her design.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The Northwest Indiana congressman, the frontrunner in Indiana’s open U.S. Senate race, declined invitations from the Debate Commission, which has drawn criticism from his opponents. Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 28 Nov. 2024 As the conflict in Gaza has dragged on, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced criticism internationally and domestically for what critics say is his prioritization of keeping together his fractious hard-right and religious coalition government — and his job — over a ceasefire deal. David Hodari, NBC News, 28 Nov. 2024 Critics Argue the Legislation Could Be Counterproductive Despite bipartisan support for the bill, the legislation has faced significant criticism, particularly from independent lawmakers. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024 Many of Reddit’s other personal style forums serve up a healthy mix of positive validation and constructive criticism. Oscar Holland, CNN, 27 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for criticism 

Word History

Etymology

critic entry 1 + -ism

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of criticism was in 1606

Dictionary Entries Near criticism

Cite this Entry

“Criticism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criticism. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

criticism

noun
crit·​i·​cism ˈkrit-ə-ˌsiz-əm How to pronounce criticism (audio)
1
: the act of criticizing and especially of finding fault
2
: a critical remark or comment
3
: a careful judgment or review especially by a critic

More from Merriam-Webster on criticism

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