critical
critical — adjective
1. pointing out flaws in someone or something; expressing the view that a person, a
pointing out flaws in someone or something; expressing the view that a person, action, or thing has serious faults.
The article was highly critical of the government's new education policy.
critical of + noun: expressing disapproval of something
Dylan's mother was critical of his messy room and told him to clean it up.
Some parents are critical of the school for not giving enough homework.
Hassan did not mean to sound critical, but the report really had several major errors.
- disapproving
softer, focuses on having a negative opinion rather than actively stating it
- judgmental
stronger, implies a habit of forming quick negative opinions
- harsh
describes the tone or severity, not the act of criticizing itself
- complimentary
expressing praise instead of fault-finding
- approving
showing agreement or support
文法句型
critical + of + noun/pronoun
用法筆記
The person or thing receiving the criticism follows the preposition 'of', not 'about' or 'toward'.
常見錯誤
2. relating to the work of a critic; involving careful analysis and judgment of the
relating to the work of a critic; involving careful analysis and judgment of the quality of books, films, plays, music, or other works of art.
The novel received widespread critical acclaim after its publication.
critical acclaim: widespread praise from reviewers
Élise is writing a critical essay on the director's early films.
The play was a critical success but failed to attract large audiences.
Her latest exhibition has been the subject of much critical discussion.
- evaluative
more formal; focuses on the act of assessing quality
- analytical
focuses on breaking down and examining rather than passing judgment
文法句型
critical + noun (review, essay, analysis, acclaim)
用法筆記
In this sense, 'critical' is neutral — it refers to analysis and evaluation, not necessarily negative judgment. A 'critical success' is a work praised by reviewers.
常見錯誤
3. extremely important because what happens next depends on it; absolutely needed f
extremely important because what happens next depends on it; absolutely needed for a particular result to be achieved.
It is critical that the medicine be kept at the right temperature.
it is critical + that-clause (subjunctive)
Good communication is critical to the success of any team project.
critical to + noun: essential for achieving something
Chidi knew that the next few days would be critical for his recovery.
Finding clean drinking water was critical for the survival of the hikers.
- unimportant
not having any significant impact
- trivial
of very little value or importance
文法句型
critical + to + noun
critical + for + noun
it is critical + that-clause
critical + infinitive
用法筆記
This sense is often used with 'that'-clauses in formal contexts. Note the subjunctive verb form: 'It is critical that he arrive (not arrives) on time.' In less formal speech, the subjunctive is sometimes dropped.
常見錯誤
4. describing raw materials and minerals that a country must have for its industrie
describing raw materials and minerals that a country must have for its industries and economy, yet are hard to get because supply is limited.
Lithium is considered a critical mineral for battery production.
critical mineral / critical raw material
The government created a list of critical materials that the country cannot afford to lose.
Salma's research focused on finding alternatives to critical metals used in electronics.
Rare earth elements are critical resources for the manufacture of high-tech devices.
- essential
broader; does not imply scarcity, only necessity
文法句型
critical + noun (minerals, materials, resources, supplies)
用法筆記
This sense is limited to discussions of natural resources, industrial supply chains, and economic planning. It is rarely used in everyday conversation.
5. so serious or dangerous that death becomes a real possibility; used for illnesse
so serious or dangerous that death becomes a real possibility; used for illnesses, injuries, or medical conditions.
The driver was rushed to the hospital in critical condition after the crash.
in critical condition: set phrase for medical status
Her lung infection became critical and required immediate surgery.
Doctors described the patient's illness as critical but said there was still hope.
Nicholas was kept in the intensive care unit because his condition was critical.
- life-threatening
clearly indicates risk of death; more formal
- grave
very formal and serious; used in medical and news contexts
- stable
condition not worsening; opposite of dangerously unstable
文法句型
critical + noun (condition, illness, injury, stage)
用法筆記
Hospitals and news reports use 'critical condition' as a standard classification. It is more severe than 'serious' and less severe than 'critical and unstable' in some systems. See also sense 6 for describing a person.
常見錯誤
6. so badly hurt or extremely sick that dying is a strong possibility; used when de
so badly hurt or extremely sick that dying is a strong possibility; used when describing a person's medical state.
After the surgery, the patient was critical but stable.
critical but stable: common medical phrase
The young man was listed as critical by the hospital staff.
Three people from the fire remain critical and are being treated for severe burns.
The doctor told the family that their grandfather was critical and might not survive the night.
- critically ill
slightly more formal; 'critically injured' is used for physical trauma
- stable
condition not worsening
- recovering
showing improvement
文法句型
be + critical (describing a person)
用法筆記
This sense describes the person directly ('The patient is critical'), unlike sense 5 which describes the illness or injury. In everyday speech the two overlap, but medical staff distinguish between 'a critical patient' (sense 6) and 'a critical condition' (sense 5).
常見錯誤
7. involving careful, fact-based assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of some
involving careful, fact-based assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of someone or something.
Schools should teach students critical thinking skills from an early age.
critical thinking: set phrase for analytical reasoning
Vikram's critical analysis of the data revealed several mistakes in the original report.
A critical reader asks questions and does not simply accept everything in the text.
The judge took a critical approach to the evidence before making a decision.
- analytical
focuses on breaking information into parts to understand it
- evaluative
focuses on forming a judgment about quality or value
- objective
emphasizes fairness and lack of bias
- uncritical
accepting things without questioning or examining them
- subjective
based on personal feelings rather than facts
文法句型
critical + noun (thinking, analysis, examination, evaluation)
用法筆記
This sense is neutral and positive — being 'critical' here means thinking carefully and objectively, not finding fault. 'Critical thinking' is a core educational goal that involves logic, questioning assumptions, and evaluating evidence.