criticize

UK: /ˈkrɪtɪsaɪz/ US: /ˈkrɪtəˌsaɪz/ ,(krit′ə sīz′)

Inflections of 'criticize' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

criticizes

v 3rd person singular (US & UK)

criticizing

v pres p (US & UK)

criticized

v past (US & UK)

criticized

v past p (US & UK)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

crit•i•cize /ˈkrɪtəˌsaɪz/   v., -cized, -ciz•ing. 

1. to find fault (with);
   judge unfavorably or harshly: [~ + object]
   criticizes her students instead of encouraging them.
   [~ + object + for + object]
   criticized me for not caring about my work.
   [no object]
   always criticizing and never has anything good to say.
2. to judge or discuss the merits or faults of;
   evaluate:
   [~ + object] The students present their work and criticize it together.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

crit•i•cize  (krit′ə sīz′), v., -cized, -ciz•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to censure or find fault with.
2. to judge or discuss the merits and faults of:
   to criticize three novels in one review.

v.i. 

3. to find fault;
   judge unfavorably or harshly.
4. to make judgments as to merits and faults.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] crit′i•cise′. 

• critic + -ize 1640–50

crit′i•ciz′a•ble, adj. 
crit′i•ciz′er, n. 
crit′i•ciz′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. condemn, blame.
• 2. appraise, evaluate.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

criticize, criticise / ˈkrɪtɪˌsaɪz/ verb

1. to judge (something) with disapproval; censure
2. to evaluate or analyse (something)

ˈcritiˌcizable, ˈcritiˌcisable adjective

ˈcritiˌcizer, ˈcritiˌciser noun