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critical thinking
logical thinking
strategic thinking
crucial thinking
rational thinking
analytical thinking
a critical point
a crucial point
a vital point
a climactic point
an analytical point
a climatic point
critical importance
crucial importance
major importance
significant importance
essential importance
extreme importance
a critical review
a skeptical review
a careful review
a cynical review
a negative review
an analytical review
a critical period
an important period
a significant period
a definitive period
an essential period
a pivotal period

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective critical contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of critical are captious, carping, censorious, faultfinding, and hypercritical. While all these words mean "inclined to look for and point out faults and defects," critical may also imply an effort to see a thing clearly and truly in order to judge it fairly.

a critical essay

When might captious be a better fit than critical?

While the synonyms captious and critical are close in meaning, captious suggests a readiness to detect trivial faults or raise objections on trivial grounds.

a captious critic

Where would carping be a reasonable alternative to critical?

The synonyms carping and critical are sometimes interchangeable, but carping implies an ill-natured or perverse picking of flaws.

a carping editorial

When could censorious be used to replace critical?

The words censorious and critical can be used in similar contexts, but censorious implies a disposition to be severely critical and condemnatory.

the censorious tone of the review

When can faultfinding be used instead of critical?

Although the words faultfinding and critical have much in common, faultfinding implies a querulous or exacting temperament.

a faultfinding reviewer

When is it sensible to use hypercritical instead of critical?

The words hypercritical and critical are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hypercritical suggests a tendency to judge by unreasonably strict standards.

hypercritical disparagement of other people's work

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of critical In a moment when whisky producers in the West are facing oversupply and slowing domestic demand, India could represent a critical path to future growth. Mark Littler, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025 The federal agency’s weather prediction and air and ocean monitoring impact nearly every industry and provide critical severe weather tracking, including through the National Weather Service. Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2025 Technology is playing a critical role in this transition. Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 25 Apr. 2025 Having visibility across not only tier 1 but tier 2 and 3 suppliers to navigate risk, disruption, trade and more is critical. Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 10 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for critical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for critical
Adjective
  • In his reply to Gordon-Levitt, Shatner also explained why that particular date was chosen in the first place.
    David Oliver, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
  • In particular, therapeutic uses topping the list may seem surprising.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • As the exhibition illustrated, Pan-Africanism also corresponded with urgent anti-colonial, anti-apartheid, and civil rights movements worldwide.
    Delinda Collier, Artforum, 1 May 2025
  • Unfortunately, the editorial minimizes the urgent reality facing our region.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • As episode three picks up in the aftermath, this expansion of Dina’s role begins to quietly reshape the story, positioning the character as a crucial anchor for Ellie’s journey moving forward and hinting at more deviations to come.
    Zoe Papelis, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
  • This is because coaching encourages independence, growth and establishes a culture of trust, which are crucial elements for sustainable productivity.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Understanding and regulating the trade in shark and ray meat is no longer optional but essential.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Every child in New York deserves the chance to learn basic literacy, numeracy, science, and civics — skills essential for participating in society, holding a job, and fulfilling civic duties like voting or serving on a jury.
    David Bloomfield, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Tuesday is when teams stage their most demanding practice ahead of a Saturday match.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Veterinary professionals work long hours in a physically demanding job.
    Jen Reeder, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • With acute stress, a rapid spike in the hormone typically helps your brain process and retain memories so they can be retrieved later.
    Alisa Hrustic, SELF, 1 May 2025
  • Museums are imperiled by acute financial, social, and ideological challenges.
    Eric Crosby, Artforum, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • While the island’s role in the U.S.’s national and international security remains important, its vast mineral wealth – resources critical to modern industries where China holds near-monopoly power – has become a key driver of U.S. interest.
    Carlie Procell, USA Today, 2 May 2025
  • Increasingly, California has become a global leader in reducing the carbon emissions that fuel climate change, and zero-emission vehicles are a key part of those climate policies.
    Camila Domonoske, NPR, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • During a 2020 heat wave, California’s grid operator was forced to institute rotating outages, a necessary step to protect the grid in California and neighboring states.
    Michael Wara, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Though this is promising, additional evidence is necessary to confirm the potential role peptides may play in protection against sun damage.13 3.
    Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 25 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Critical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/critical. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on critical

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