How do you use the word "critical" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "critical": You are too critical of others' shortcomings. Your mother is in critical condition.

Critical Meaning

/ˈkɹɪt.ɪ.kəl/

Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

adjInclined to find fault or criticize.

adjPertaining to, or indicating, a crisis or turning point.

Sentence Examples

You are too critical of others' shortcomings.

Your mother is in critical condition.

You should just ignore any critical comments.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

scathing decisive

Antonyms:

uncritical

CEFR Practice Quiz

The patient's condition was ____ and required immediate surgery.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

You are too ____ of others' shortcomings.

Word Origin & History

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *krey- Proto-Indo-European *krinyétider. Proto-Hellenic *kríňňō Ancient Greek κρῑ́νω (krī́nō) Ancient Greek κρῐ- (krĭ-) Proto-Hellenic *-tās Ancient Greek -τής (-tḗs) Ancient Greek κρῐτής (krĭtḗs) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) Ancient Greek -ῐκός (-ĭkós) Ancient Greek κριτικός (kritikós)bor. Latin criticus Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al English critical From Latin criticus + English -al.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"Let us go back to the beginning and consider what the charge is that has made people so critical of me, and has encouraged Meletus to draw up this indictment." — 1993, Plato, translated by Hugh Tredennick and Harold Tarrant, “Justice and Duty (i): Socrates Speaks at his Trial: the Apology”, in The Last Days of Socrates (Penguin Classics), revised edition, London; New York, N.Y.: Penguin Books, →ISBN, page 39:

"Such a scandal as the prosecution of a brother for forgery—with a verdict of guilty—is a most truly horrible, deplorable, fatal thing. It takes the respectability out of a family perhaps at a critical moment, when the family is just assuming the robes of respectability: […] it is a black spot which all the soaps ever advertised could never wash off." — 1892, Walter Besant, “Prologue: Who is Edmund Gray?”, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC:

"Oxygen levels on Earth skyrocketed 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis:[…]. The evolutionary precursor of photosynthesis is still under debate, and a new study sheds light. The critical component of the photosynthetic system is the “water-oxidizing complex”, made up of manganese atoms and a calcium atom." — 2013 September-October, Katie L. Burke, “In the News”, in American Scientist:

"Third Pole glaciers are critical to billions of people from Vietnam to Afghanistan." — 2018, VOA Learning English > China's Melting Glacier Brings Visitors, Adds to Climate Concerns:

"“Unless you are purchasing cereal from a health food store, many brands that are marketed as healthy are usually full of sugar and processed ingredients,” says Garcia. So when you’re choosing cereal, bread or any other whole-grain product, Garcia recommends reading labels with a critical eye." — 2012 April 19, Alexandra Sifferlin, “‘Healthy’ Foods that Really Aren’t: Nutritionists Weigh In”, in Time:

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