NYT Dictionary

CRITICAL

/ˈkɹɪt.ɪ.kəl/
AdjectiveNounCRIT-i-calcrit-i-cal · 3 syllablesGrade 6

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2018, 2019, 2025

Meaning

Inclined to find fault or criticize.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *krey- Proto-Indo-European *-n- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *krinyéti Proto-Hellenic *kríňňō Ancient Greek κρῑ́νω (krī́nō) Ancient Greek κρῐ- (krĭ-) Proto-Hellenic *-tās Ancient Greek -τής (-tḗs) Ancient Greek κρῐτής (krĭtḗs) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Hellenic *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) Ancient Greek -ῐκός (-ĭkós) Ancient Greek κριτικός (kritikós)bor. Latin criticus Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Proto-Indo-European *-is Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al English critical From Latin criticus + English -al.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

fastidiouscaptiouscensoriousexactingjudgmentalslashingcrucialimperativecritvital

Antonyms

uncriticalnoncritical

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle:

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