Definition

The act of expressing disapproval or finding faults in someone or something.

Example

Her criticism of the movie was very insightful and helped me understand it better.

Conversation

I received some criticism on my latest painting yesterday.

Oh really? What did they say?

They thought the colors were too bold and clashed a bit.

Sometimes criticism can be helpful, though; it might give you new ideas!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Criticism is formed from "crit" (from Greek "krinein", meaning to separate or decide) and "-ism" (meaning a practice or philosophy). The word refers to the practice of evaluating or separating the merits and faults of something, often in a judgmental manner.

Memory Tip

Think of 'deciding' ('krinein') what is good or bad about something — that's what criticism means.

Visually Confused Words