Criticized

ˈkrɪtɪsaɪzd

verbIntermediateVery CommonGeneral

Definitions

1

To express disapproval of someone or something based on perceived faults or mistakes.

ˈkrɪtɪsaɪzd

verbnegativeIntermediate
General

To express disapproval of someone or something based on a fault or error.

The reviewer criticized the movie's plot.

💡 Simply: Imagine your friend didn't do their homework, and the teacher tells them it's bad. That's criticizing—pointing out something wrong and why.

👶 For kids: When you tell someone what they did wasn't good or wasn't right.

More Examples

2

The teacher criticized the student's essay for grammatical errors.

3

The company's marketing strategy was heavily criticized.

How It's Used

Politics

"The senator was widely criticized for his controversial statement."

Arts

"The artist's new work was heavily criticized by art critics."

Idioms & expressions

criticize something to hell and back

To criticize something or someone very severely.

"The online community criticized the new movie to hell and back, calling it a complete disaster."

From Middle English *criteisen*, from Old French *critiquer* (to criticize), from Greek *kritikos* (able to judge, critical).

The word 'criticized' has been used consistently to express disapproval in various contexts since the 17th century.

Memory tip

Think of a critic giving a harsh review.

criticisedcritizised

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written