critically

adverb

Definition of criticallynext
as in negatively

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 critically In addition to the dead, several survivors were critically injured, said Gervais Ganagoroh, a local Red Cross volunteer involved in relief efforts. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026 Third Future School’s curriculum emphasizes helping students think critically, problem solve and apply learning across all subject areas. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Aug. 2026 Most of those conversations happen outside clinic hours, and most of them lead not to a doctor but back to the user — someone with no training in what to provide, how to prompt, or how to critically appraise what comes back. — Arya Rao, STAT, 19 Aug. 2026 One man was killed and another was critically wounded in that incident. — Mike Darnay, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 Many viewers praised the former child star as the beating heart of the series, and it was critically acclaimed. — Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026 The regional order rested on American security guarantees not only to Arab states but also, critically, to the autocrats who sat atop them. — Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 It's been critically panned by several outlets in the country, which have described its 3D animation as crude and its dialogue as blunt and obscure. — Owen Carry, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026 Hawksbill turtles are critically endangered, while olive ridley, loggerhead, and leatherback turtles are all classified as vulnerable. — Sophie Neiman, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for critically
  1. negatively
  2. cynically
  3. unfavorably
  4. disparagingly
Adverb
  • Today, thanks in part to central air conditioning, there’s a growing argument to keep students in school longer to combat academic regression, as research has shown time off negatively impacts student performance.
    — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Joint research by the University of Chicago and the University of Nebraska found signs that heart muscle cells are not negatively affected by space travel at all.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of negatively
Adverb
  • That’s either an amazing coincidence of errors or the studies were cynically designed to contrive flaws in RCV.
    — Paul Haughey, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Albums of new material followed, showing that Askew’s briny voice and cynically whimsical songcraft had only deepened with age.
    — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 31 July 2026
Definition of cynically
Adverb
  • The larger issue is that anyone replacing Kornheiser would be compared with him, likely unfavorably.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Mamdani yielded positive responses from those polled in New York City, where 69% of respondents saw Mamdani favorably, while 24% of respondents viewed him unfavorably.
    — Jay Stahl, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of unfavorably
Adverb
  • Some speak disparagingly about Murray’s introverted nature, and others prefer not to ding him.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 28 July 2026
  • The craze has even spawned knockoffs, disparagingly known as Lafufu.
    — Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of disparagingly

Browse Nearby Words

critical
critically
criticaster
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Critically.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/critically. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on critically

Nglish: Translation of critically for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of august

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All