self-criticism
self-criticism — noun
1. the practice of looking at your own actions, decisions, or personal qualities an
the practice of looking at your own actions, decisions, or personal qualities and pointing out what you see as wrong, weak, or in need of improvement
During her annual performance review, Nkechi's self-criticism helped her identify three areas to work on.
adjective + self-criticism: possessive noun + self-criticism
Hugo's therapist suggested he balance self-criticism by listing one success for every mistake he noted.
balance self-criticism with [something positive]
Adina realised her constant self-criticism was stopping her from applying for the team-lead role.
After the product launch failed, Tuan's honest self-criticism helped his team rebuild trust.
Years of harsh self-criticism made it hard for Greta to accept a simple compliment.
- self-critique
more structured, often used in formal or academic contexts; suggests a deliberate analytical review rather than a general habit
- self-examination
broader in scope, can include neutral observation without necessarily finding fault
- self-appraisal
used especially in workplace or professional development settings
- introspection
focuses on examining one's inner thoughts and feelings, not specifically on faults or weaknesses
- self-praise
intentionally highlighting one's own good qualities; the opposite of pointing out faults
- self-acceptance
embracing oneself without harsh judgment, rather than focusing on what needs improvement
文法句型
self-criticism + of/about + noun phrase
adjective + self-criticism
用法筆記
Often modified by adjectives such as 'harsh,' 'constructive,' 'healthy,' or 'constant' to indicate whether the practice is helpful or harmful. The countable plural 'self-criticisms' is used for specific, distinct instances of self-critical remarks rather than the general habit.