Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

criticism

/ˈkɹɪtɪsɪzm̩/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.49 in modern English

Syllables: crit-i-cism
IPA: /ˈkɹɪtɪsɪzm̩/

15

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

4

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The act of criticising; a critical judgment passed or expressed.

Uncountable

noun

A critical observation or detailed examination and review.

Countable

Example Sentences

"The politician received a lot of public criticism for his controversial stance on the issue."
"Criticism has been leveled at a number of prominent figures."
"Bret Stephens believed that, by virtue of his comfortable position at the New York Times, he ought to be immune from insult or criticism."
"The politician received several detailed criticisms of his stance on the issue."
"I was stung by her harsh criticisms."
"Her attitude was that of a person who listens, either to the external world of sound, or to the discourse of thought. A close criticism might have detected signs proving that she was intent on the latter alternative."

Etymology

Etymology tree English critic Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íd͏̌d͏̌ō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós)der. English -ism English criticism From critic + -ism.

Usage

Inflected Forms

criticisms (plural)

Derived Forms

anticriticism autocriticism biocriticism countercriticism cybercriticism ecocriticism geocriticism gynocriticism hypercriticism metacriticism neocriticism oneirocriticism

Phrases

constructive criticism contextual criticism destructive criticism form criticism higher criticism historical criticism historic criticism literary criticism

Frequently Paired Words

armchair criticism critic critical criticise criticize condemnation

Synonyms

censure dispraise panning critique animadversion stricture criticism criticization dressing-down handbagging slam admonishment

Antonyms

advice praise

Questions

How do you pronounce criticism?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈkɹɪtɪsɪzm̩/.
What does criticism mean?: The act of criticising; a critical judgment passed or expressed.
Where does criticism come from?: Etymology tree English critic Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íd͏̌d͏̌ō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós)der. English -ism English criticism From critic + -ism.

How to pronounce criticism

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