Definition

A person who criticizes in a petty or insignificant way, often lacking depth or seriousness in their judgments.

Example

The criticaster dismissed the artist's work without understanding its true value.

Conversation

Did you read the review of that new movie?

Yeah, I thought it was written by a total criticaster.

I agree! They didn't seem to understand the film at all.

Exactly! It's frustrating when real talent gets overlooked.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Criticaster → It is formed from "critic" (from Greek "kritikos", meaning able to judge) and the suffix "-aster" (a diminutive suffix indicating something lesser or inferior). The word "criticaster" refers to a person who is a minor or inferior critic, often implying a lack of seriousness or depth in their criticism.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who is a 'lesser judge' ('critic' means judge and '-aster' implies lesser) — that's why a criticaster is someone who offers trivial or superficial criticism.

Visually Confused Words