critical

Meanings

Adjective

• marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws
  • "a critical attitude"
• at or of a point at which a property or phenomenon suffers an abrupt change especially having enough mass to sustain a chain reaction
  • "a critical temperature of water is 100 degrees C--its boiling point at standard atmospheric pressure"
  • "critical mass"
  • "go critical"
• characterized by careful evaluation and judgment
  • "a critical reading"
  • "a critical dissertation"
  • "a critical analysis of Melville's writings"
• being in or verging on a state of crisis or emergency
  • "a critical shortage of food"
  • "a critical illness"
  • "an illness at the critical stage"
• of or involving or characteristic of critics or criticism
  • "critical acclaim"

Adjective Satellite

• urgently needed; absolutely necessary
  • "a critical element of the plan"
  • "critical medical supplies"
• forming or having the nature of a turning point or crisis
  • "a critical point in the campaign"
  • "the critical test"

Synonyms

decisive, vital

Antonyms

noncritical, uncritical