Art Criticism Vocabulary

noun a principle or standard by which something may be judged or decided

• The main criterion for acceptance into the program is a high GPA.
• The only criterion for joining the club is to be friends with someone who's already a member.
• The party's criterion for entry is being cool enough to get past the bouncer.
• In her eyes, his sense of humor was the ultimate criterion for a potential partner.

adjective involving or exercising careful judgment or evaluation

• It is critical to thoroughly review the data before making any decisions.
• It's super important to double-check everything before deciding.
• It's absolutely crucial to check all the info before you make a move.
• Like a puzzle piece, each decision is critical in completing the big picture.

noun the expression of disapproval of someone or something based on perceived faults or mistakes

• Constructive criticism is essential for personal growth and improvement.
• I appreciate your feedback, but please try to keep your criticism constructive.
• I can't deal with all the haters and their constant criticism.
• Her words were like sharp criticism, cutting through his defenses.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. In this case, 'elevated' describes something that is raised or lifted to a higher position or level.

• The elevated platform provided a better view of the entire city.
• I love taking the elevated train because you can see everything from up high.
• Let's hit up that new elevated bar downtown, I heard it's really cool.
• Her elevated status in the company allowed her to make important decisions.

noun the quality of being equal in size, shape, or value; uniformity

• The evenness of the distribution of resources among the population is a key factor in achieving social equality.
• I appreciate the evenness of your handwriting, it's very neat and easy to read.
• I can't believe the evenness of her tan, she must have spent hours in the sun.
• The evenness of his temperament is what makes him such a reliable friend in times of need.

noun a mark, fault, or other imperfection that mars a substance or object

verb to blemish, spoil, or mar

adjective having a flaw or imperfection

• The architect discovered a flaw in the building's foundation that needed immediate attention.
• I found a flaw in your plan that could cause some problems down the line.
• There's a flaw in your logic, dude.
• Her flaw was that she cared too much about what others thought of her.

noun A noun is a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'view' is a noun referring to what is seen or observed.

adverb An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In this case, 'in view' modifies a verb or adjective to show location or perspective.

preposition A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. 'In' is a preposition indicating location or position within a certain area or range.

• In view of the recent financial reports, the board has decided to implement cost-cutting measures.
• In view of the bad weather forecast, we should probably reschedule our outdoor picnic.
• In view of the drama happening at school, I think it's best to stay out of it.
• In view of the current political climate, it's important to stay informed and educated on the issues.

adjective describing something as not authentic or genuine

• The art critic described the painting as inauthentic, noting inconsistencies in the artist's style.
• I can tell that the signature on this watch is inauthentic, it's definitely a knock-off.
• That apology seemed so inauthentic, I could tell they didn't really mean it.
• Her smile looked inauthentic, like she was forcing it for the camera.

adjective showing a lack of tact or consideration

• She avoided discussing indelicate topics in polite company.
• I can't believe he made such an indelicate comment at the dinner party.
• His joke was so indelicate, it made everyone uncomfortable.
• The way he handled the situation was indelicate, like a bull in a china shop.

adjective causing annoyance or repulsion; repellent

• The rebarbative odor emanating from the factory was a cause for concern among the residents.
• I find his rebarbative attitude towards me quite off-putting.
• That movie was so rebarbative, I couldn't even sit through the first ten minutes.
• Her rebarbative personality was like a dark cloud that hung over every interaction.

noun the thin layer of tissue forming the natural outer covering of the body of a person or animal

adjective relating to or affecting only the outer surface or appearance of something

• The importance of inner beauty is often overlooked in a society that values beauty that is only skin deep.
• Don't judge a book by its cover, remember beauty is only skin deep.
• That guy may look good on the outside, but remember, beauty is just skin deep.
• The painting may look flawless from afar, but upon closer inspection, you realize its beauty is only skin deep.

adjective describing someone or something as graceful, slender, and delicate, like a sylph (a mythological spirit of the air)

• The ballerina moved across the stage with sylphlike grace and elegance.
• She was sylphlike in her movements, as if she were floating on air.
• That model has a sylphlike figure that everyone envies.
• Her sylphlike presence seemed to enchant everyone around her.

adjective describing something as thick, sweet, and sticky like syrup

• The syrupy consistency of the dessert sauce was perfect for drizzling over the cake.
• I love how syrupy this soda is, it's so sweet!
• This syrupy song is my jam, I can't stop listening to it.
• Her syrupy sweet smile could charm anyone she met.

adjective Tenuous is an adjective that describes something very weak or slight, delicate, or flimsy.

• The connection between the two variables is tenuous at best.
• Their relationship is pretty tenuous right now.
• The chances of winning the lottery are tenuous, but hey, you never know!
• The fragile peace agreement was tenuous, hanging by a thread.

adjective swollen or distended; bloated

• The professor's writing style is often criticized for being too turgid and difficult to understand.
• I couldn't get through that turgid book; it was just too boring.
• That movie was so turgid, I almost fell asleep in the theater.
• The stagnant pond was filled with turgid water, reflecting the overall mood of the town.

adjective awkward or clumsy in movement or shape

• The ungainly structure of the building made it difficult to navigate.
• She tripped over her own feet, looking quite ungainly in the process.
• The way he danced was so ungainly, it was hilarious!
• Her ungainly attempt to juggle multiple tasks at once led to chaos.

verb to entangle or ensnare; to restrict or hinder

• The new regulations were put in place to entrammel the excessive power of big corporations.
• I need to entrammel my cluttered desk before I can start working.
• I entrammel my thoughts by writing them down in a journal.
• Fear can entrammel your mind and prevent you from taking risks.

noun a person who engages in deep or intellectual thinking, often characterized by stroking their chin in contemplation

• The literary critic was known as a chinstroker for his deep analysis of classic novels.
• My professor is a bit of a chinstroker when it comes to discussing philosophy.
• I can't stand those chinstrokers who act like they know everything about art.
• The politician's speech was filled with empty promises and chinstrokers.

noun the branch of knowledge that deals with interpretation, especially of the Bible or literary texts

• The study of biblical hermeneutics is crucial for understanding the teachings of the Bible.
• She's really into hermeneutics and loves analyzing different texts.
• I don't get all that hermeneutics stuff, it's too deep for me.
• In a way, hermeneutics is like decoding the hidden messages in literature.

noun a small or minor literary or musical work

adjective relating to or characteristic of a small or minor literary or musical work

• The professor assigned a reading of a philosophical opuscule for the next class.
• I found this little opuscule in the bookstore and thought it looked interesting.
• I can't believe how short that opuscule was, I finished it in one sitting.
• Her speech was like a literary opuscule, concise yet impactful.

noun a term used in perfumery to describe the trail of scent left behind by a fragrance

verb not applicable

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preposition not applicable

conjunction not applicable

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• The sillage of the perfume lingered in the room long after she had left.
• I could smell the sillage of her cologne from across the room.
• That perfume has such a strong sillage, it's like a cloud around her.
• The sillage of her presence could be felt even though she was miles away.

noun a Latin phrase meaning 'from the egg to the apples'; used to refer to a complete meal

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence

• The chef presented the meal ab ovo usque ad mala, starting with the appetizer and ending with dessert.
• We had a full-course dinner last night, ab ovo usque ad mala.
• We went all out with the feast, ab ovo usque ad mala.
• The project was meticulously planned ab ovo usque ad mala, ensuring every detail was taken care of from start to finish.

adjective growing or increasing in size, amount, or degree

• The accrescent population in the city led to a need for more infrastructure.
• The accrescent number of tourists is causing traffic jams in town.
• The accrescent amount of homework is killing me.
• His accrescent fame brought both admiration and envy from his peers.

noun the act or process of creating a painting in this manner

• Action painting is a technique where artists apply paint in a spontaneous and energetic manner.
• Have you seen that action painting exhibit at the museum? It's so cool!
• I tried my hand at action painting last weekend, and it was a total blast.
• Her emotions were like a wild action painting, full of vibrant colors and bold strokes.