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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 Similarly, the United States wants to restrict China from acquiring certain kinds of advanced technology, such as tools and components critical to manufacturing semiconductors. Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025 Magnesium is a mineral needed to regulate blood pressure, nerve function, and many other critical body processes. Jillian Kubala, Health, 24 June 2025 The honorees will receive grants of up to $110,000 annually for up to five years to conduct research on critical topics in neuroscience, cancer, immunology and pain. Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025 The lasting impact of the 1953 coup While the U.S. and Iran have butt heads over a range of issues since the 1979 revolution and hostage crisis, including years of strife over Iran’s nuclear program, the 1953 coup remains a critical event still invoked in modern Iran. Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for critical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for critical
Adjective
  • All three platforms can cite one particular business for helping drive recent success: financial services.
    Lionel Lim, Fortune, 22 June 2025
  • Lifestyle gets political Lifestyle creators in particular have seen the most movement toward political content this year.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2025
Adjective
  • As Donald Trump was convening an emergency meeting of his National Security Council to discuss the increasingly urgent developments in the Middle East, Vice President JD Vance was meeting with Republicans on Capitol Hill.
    Noah Rothman, National Review, 18 June 2025
  • If a passenger or crew member requires urgent medical attention that cannot be managed onboard, the captain may divert the ship to the nearest port with adequate facilities.
    David Nikel, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • Memphis fell in the standings toward the end of the year, and this offseason was already going to be a crucial one.
    Matt Levine, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 June 2025
  • Victor Olofsson injected crucial secondary scoring (15 goals in 56 games) at a dirt-cheap $1.075 million rate.
    Harman Dayal, New York Times, 15 June 2025
Adjective
  • Pollinators are essential for the reproduction of more than 75% of the world’s flowering plants and nearly 35% of global food crops.1 To help these hard workers out, eco-conscious gardeners are turning to simple, effective solutions, like pollinator pots and bowls.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2025
  • They were often found handing out doughnuts to essential workers in 2020 and 2021 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 21 June 2025
Adjective
  • All have long-standing reputations and a superb stock that will meet the requirements of the most demanding connoisseur.
    Felipe Schrieberg, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
  • That becomes especially useful when dealing with fluctuating frame rates on more demanding games.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 11 June 2025
Adjective
  • On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave the company’s acute myeloid leukemia drug CER-1236 an orphan drug designation .
    Brian Evans, CNBC, 18 June 2025
  • With internal travel banned and markets shuttered, food shortages became acute.
    Will Ripley, CNN Money, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • The loss extended their losing streak to a season-high five games and cost them a series win over a key divisional opponent.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 19 June 2025
  • Energy is in the spotlight in this conflict due to Iran's status as the world's ninth largest oil producer and its proximity to the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane in and out of the Persian Gulf.
    Jesse Pound, CNBC, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • Doctors complain the process is burdensome and it's often used to delay or deny medically necessary medical care for patients.
    Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 24 June 2025
  • By thoughtfully considering how their cultures impact new graduate experiences, companies can create environments that not only attract top talent but also foster the innovation and adaptability necessary for future success.
    Brendan Keegan, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Critical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/critical. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.

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