critique

1 of 2

noun

cri·​tique krə-ˈtēk How to pronounce critique (audio)
kri-
: an act of criticizing
especially : a critical (see critical sense 1c) estimate or discussion
a critique of the poet's work
an honest critique of her art

critique

2 of 2

verb

critiqued; critiquing

transitive verb

: to examine critically : review
critique the plan

Did you know?

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

Noun She wrote a radical critique of the philosopher's early essays. They gave a fair and honest critique of her art. Verb The class convened to critique the student's latest painting.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In her new concert film, Beyoncé revealed that after her older daughter joined her onstage for several of her Renaissance World Tour stops this summer, the 11-year-old was affected by online critiques of her dancing. Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 26 Nov. 2023 Former defense secretary Robert Gates offered a harsh critique of President Barack Obama’s judgments that was used as a cudgel by Obama’s critics. Josh Dawsey, Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2023 Some of those performances sparked viral critique about her stage presence, a growing point of contention for many artists whose careers began and exploded within the confines of the pandemic. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2023 Another critique of the study is its lack of diverse representation, LaPook notes. CBS News, 13 Nov. 2023 The GOP offensive started during the 2020 election as public critiques and has since escalated into lawsuits, governmental inquiries and public relations campaigns that have succeeded in stopping almost all coordination between the government and social media platforms. Kevin Collier, NBC News, 10 Nov. 2023 But even within that critique, Collins leaves room for a soulful folk singer — the title’s metaphorical songbird — to serve as the voice of resistance. Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 Nov. 2023 In an effort to bring The Human Stain and its critiques into the present day, much of the discussion focused on the controversy surrounding Jeanine Cummins’s 2020 novel American Dirt, which imagines a Mexican family’s harrowing migration across the border. Hannah Gold, Harper's Magazine, 3 Nov. 2023 When Jezebel was founded, there were other spaces for feminist critique of culture and politics at large, but Jezebel was the most eager to get into a cafeteria brawl with it. Erin Gloria Ryan, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 2023
Verb
First, North critiqued the gaps in the pearls, saying her dress looked ripped. Genevieve Cepeda, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023 Beyond fostering a daily culture where speaking up and advocating is celebrated not critiqued, safety also comes from feeling seen in the benefits and accommodations offered that prioritize an employee’s whole health. Alexa Mikhail, Fortune Well, 21 Nov. 2023 They were also critiqued on on-the-spot team challenges, including designing devices that study the Chesapeake Bay’s oyster reef ecosystem. Sydney Page, Washington Post, 16 Nov. 2023 For some, having every move, word, and body part critiqued by the internet is a special kind of horror house. WIRED, 27 Sep. 2023 In the past, groups of major talent have swung by the show to offer advice to specific teams, or a Key Advisor has critiqued every competition. Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 31 Oct. 2023 Scholars like Kimberlé Crenshaw have critiqued the way that liberal jurisprudence limits the scope of liberation. Samuel Clowes Huneke, The New Republic, 26 Oct. 2023 But social media trolls have viciously critiqued and labeled these depictions as part of a politically correct feminist agenda. Cara Ocobock, Scientific American, 19 Oct. 2023 The chooser then takes off their clothes so the potential dates can critique their body before a final choice is made. Rudie Obias, Variety, 26 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'critique.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from French, borrowed from Latin critica "evaluation of literary works," borrowed from Greek kritikḗ noun derivative from feminine of kritikós "discerning, capable of judging" — more at critic entry 1

Verb

derivative of critique entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1679, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1752, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of critique was in 1679

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near critique

Cite this Entry

“Critique.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/critique. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

critique

1 of 2 noun
cri·​tique
krə-ˈtēk
: an act or instance of criticizing
especially : a critical estimate or discussion

critique

2 of 2 verb
critiqued; critiquing
: to examine critically : review
critiqued the plan

More from Merriam-Webster on critique

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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