critical

modif.

1. Capable of observing and judging

   analytical, discriminating, penetrating, perceptive, trenchant, discerning, judging, evaluative, interpretive; see also explanatory, judicious, observant 1.

2. Inclined to adverse criticism

   faultfinding, captious, censorious, hypercritical, inclined to judge with severity, caviling, carping, derogatory, disapproving, judgmental, severe, withering, calumniatory, demanding, satirical, cynical, hairsplitting, quibbling, nitpicking, nagging, scolding, condemning, censuring, reproachful, disparaging, exacting, sharp, cutting, biting, fussy, picky*; see also sarcastic, severe 1.

   Antonyms praising, flattering, encouraging.

3. Dangerous

   perilous, risky, hazardous; see dangerous 1.

4. Crucial

   decisive, significant, deciding; see crucial, important 1.

critical may imply an attempt at objective judging so as to determine both merits and faults a critical review, but it often (and hypercritical, always) connotes emphasis on the faults or shortcomings; faultfinding implies a habitual or unreasonable emphasis on faults or defects; captious suggests a characteristic tendency to find fault with, or argue about, even the pettiest details a captious critic; caviling stresses the raising of quibbling objections on the most trivial points a caviling grammarian; carping suggests peevishness, perversity, or censoriousness in seeking out faults See also syn. study at acute.