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
At the time, many top leaders, including Premier Zhou Enlai, were forced to engage in days of humiliating self-criticism and confession.
—Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2025
The Bears quarterback didn't hesitate to offer some self-criticism in his postgame remarks either.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 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
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Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2025
The Bears quarterback didn't hesitate to offer some self-criticism in his postgame remarks either.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 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
Cite this Entry
“Self-criticism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-criticism. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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