What Is Critical? Definition And Usage Of This Term

WHAT IS CRITICAL – In this topic, we will first know the definition of this term and how is this term used in sentences.

Definition

The Oxford Dictionary described this term as the following:

expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgments
expressing or involving an analysis of the merits and faults of a work of literature, music, or art
- (of a published literary or musical text) incorporating a detailed and scholarly analysis and commentary
- involving the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgement
(of a situation or problem) having the potential to become disastrous; at a point of crisis
- (of a person) extremely ill and at risk of death
- having a decisive or crucial importance in the success, failure, or existence of something

On the other hand, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines this term as the following:

inclined to criticize severely and unfavorably
- consisting of or involving criticism
- of or relating to the judgment of critics
- exercising or involving careful judgment or judicious evaluation
- including variant readings and scholarly emendations
of, relating to, or being a turning point or specially important juncture
- relating to or being the stage of a disease at which an abrupt change for better or worse may be expected
- being or relating to an illness or condition involving danger of death
- relating to or being a state in which or a measurement or point at which some quality, property, or phenomenon suffers a definite change
of sufficient size to sustain a chain reaction —used of a mass of fissionable material
- sustaining a nuclear chain reaction

Synonyms and Antonyms

Here are the following synonyms and antonyms of this term:

Synonyms
- censorious
- condemnatory
- condemning
- castigatory
- reproving
- evaluative
- analytic
- analytical
- interpretative
- expository
Antonyms
- complimentary
- safe
- unimportant

Etymology

The term is derived from the late Latin criticus.

Examples

Here are some of the following examples:

The evidence of date derived from changes in the language is more difficult to formulate, and the inquiry calls for the most diligent use of scientific method and critical judgment.
The caller was the husband of Howie’s mother, his step-father, informing him that his mother had suffered a serious heart attack and was in critical condition.
It needs no critical exertion to reduce utterly to dust any deductions drawn from history.
Every man is tasked to make his life, even in its details, worthy of the contemplation of his most elevated and critical hour.