Words For Criticism

noun the action of constantly finding fault or complaining

adjective tending to find fault or criticize; complaining

• The carping critic pointed out every flaw in the artist's work.
• Stop carping about the weather and just enjoy the day.
• Why are you always carping about everything? Chill out!
• Her constant carping was like a mosquito buzzing in my ear.

verb to raise petty or frivolous objections; to find fault unnecessarily

adjective tending to find fault in a petty or trivial way; carping

• The lawyer's caviling over minor details delayed the trial.
• Stop caviling and just enjoy the party.
• Why are you caviling about everything? Just chill out.
• Her constant caviling was like a dark cloud hanging over the group.

noun a trivial objection or criticism

verb to make petty or unnecessary objections

• He would always find something to cavil about, no matter how well the project was executed.
• Stop caviling and just enjoy the movie.
• Why do you always have to cavil over every little thing?
• Her constant caviling was like a dark cloud hanging over the family gathering.

verb to express contempt for; ridicule

• The professor would often deride students who did not meet his high academic standards.
• She couldn't help but deride her friend's fashion choices behind her back.
• Don't listen to him, he's just deriding you because he's jealous.
• The media's constant derision of the politician eventually led to his downfall.

noun mockery or ridicule

• The speaker was met with derision from the audience after making an unpopular statement.
• She couldn't help but burst into derision when she saw his outfit.
• The group of friends were throwing derision at each other all night.
• The artist's new painting was met with derision, but he stood by his work.

verb to criticize or punish severely

• The board decided to fustigate the employee for repeatedly violating company policies.
• I heard that the teacher is going to fustigate the students who didn't turn in their assignments.
• If you don't stop talking during the movie, I'm going to fustigate you!
• The harsh criticism from the media felt like a fustigation of the actor's performance.

noun a brickbat - a piece of brick used as a weapon or for throwing

verb hurl - to throw with force or violence

• The politician decided to hurl a brickbat at his opponent during the debate.
• I can't believe she actually hurled a brickbat at him during the argument!
• She was so angry that she just hurled a brickbat at him out of nowhere.
• Instead of hurling a brickbat, try to have a civil conversation to resolve the issue.

verb to speak or write about (something) with great hostility

• The senator used his platform to inveigh against the new tax legislation.
• She always loves to inveigh against her noisy neighbors.
• I can't stand when people inveigh against my favorite band.
• The protesters continued to inveigh against the corrupt government, despite the risks.

verb to criticize harshly or severely

• The critic proceeded to lambaste the new play for its lack of originality.
• I can't believe how much my boss will lambaste me for being late to work.
• The internet trolls love to lambaste anyone who disagrees with them.
• She felt like she was being lambasted by the storm of criticism from her peers.

adjective causing or evoking pity, sympathetic sadness, sorrow, etc.; pitiful; pitiable

• The company's financial performance this quarter was truly pathetic.
• I can't believe how pathetic that movie was, I want my money back.
• She tried to make excuses for her pathetic behavior, but no one was buying it.
• His attempt at a joke was so pathetic, no one even cracked a smile.

verb to reprimand or criticize strongly

• The teacher reprehended the student for not completing the assignment on time.
• My mom always reprehends me for leaving dirty dishes in the sink.
• I got reprehended by my boss for showing up late to work again.
• The public reprehended the politician for his unethical behavior.

noun a rebuke or reprimand

• The teacher's tone of voice carried a sense of reprehension towards the student's behavior.
• I could tell from the way she looked at him that there was some serious reprehension going on.
• He totally got hit with some major reprehension for skipping class again.
• The dark clouds overhead seemed to cast a shadow of reprehension over the town.

verb to criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner

• He was reviled by his colleagues for his unethical behavior.
• She couldn't believe how much they reviled her on social media.
• The haters love to revile anyone who doesn't agree with them.
• The artist's work was reviled by critics, but loved by the public.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun, in this case 'scathing' means severely critical or harsh.

• The critic wrote a scathing review of the new play, calling it unoriginal and poorly executed.
• I couldn't believe how scathing my friend's comments were about the movie we watched last night.
• The teacher's scathing remarks about my presentation really hurt my feelings.
• Her scathing wit cut through the tension in the room like a knife.

verb to criticize or berate harshly

• The politician chose not to vituperate his opponent during the debate.
• She couldn't help but vituperate her coworker after the argument.
• I heard him vituperate his ex-girlfriend in front of everyone.
• The storm seemed to vituperate the coastline with its fierce winds and rain.

noun a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence

adjective a word used to describe or modify a noun

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

article a word that is used to specify a noun

• The CEO ripped the employee a new one for missing the deadline.
• My mom is going to rip me a new one when she finds out I failed my math test.
• Don't mess with him, he'll rip you a new asshole if you cross him.
• The coach ripped the team a new one during halftime to motivate them to play better.

verb to scold or rebuke someone harshly

• The teacher objurgated the student for not completing the assignment on time.
• My mom objurgated me for leaving dirty dishes in the sink.
• The coach objurgated the player for missing an easy shot during the game.
• The politician objurgated his opponent's policies during the debate.

adverb in a sharp and forthright manner

• The professor acerbically criticized the student's lack of preparation for the presentation.
• She acerbically remarked on his choice of outfit for the party.
• He acerbically roasted his friend's cooking skills.
• The author's writing style is often acerbically witty, leaving readers both entertained and slightly offended.