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
But Central Bank head Nabiullina is downplaying the risks because acknowledging them openly would be tantamount to self-criticism, given that her tight monetary policy has been the most important factor behind the recent slowdown.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 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
Instead of harsh self-criticism, self-compassion encourages a recognition that everyone hurts sometimes and that imperfection is part of the human experience.
—Ellen Choi, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
What used to be a politics of tolerance and inclusion is now seen—often rightly—as obsessed with identity, hypersensitive to offense, and incapable of self-criticism.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 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
The sincerity keeps flowing through a vulnerable therapy discussion, where contestants candidly address jealousy, self-criticism, and repressed anger.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 5 May 2025
What is the responsibility of the left critic for self-criticism?
—Arielle Angel, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2025
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Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 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
Instead of harsh self-criticism, self-compassion encourages a recognition that everyone hurts sometimes and that imperfection is part of the human experience.
—Ellen Choi, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
What used to be a politics of tolerance and inclusion is now seen—often rightly—as obsessed with identity, hypersensitive to offense, and incapable of self-criticism.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 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
The sincerity keeps flowing through a vulnerable therapy discussion, where contestants candidly address jealousy, self-criticism, and repressed anger.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 5 May 2025
What is the responsibility of the left critic for self-criticism?
—Arielle Angel, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-criticism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-criticism. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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