variants
also British criticise
criticizes; criticized; criticizing
1
: to express disapproval of (someone or something) : to talk about the problems or faults of (someone or something)
His boss criticized him for his sloppy work habits.
The judge was widely/roundly criticized for his verdict.
The editor criticized the author's work as trite.
It seems as though all he ever does is criticize.
2
: to look at and make judgments about (something, such as a piece of writing or a work of art)
He asked me to criticize [=critique] his drawings.
Cite this Entry
“Criticize.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/criticize. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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