verb

kritisieren

criticize

Jemandem sagen, was er falsch gemacht hat oder was verbessert werden kann.

Definition & meaning

Kritisieren means to criticize: to express disapproval of someone or something, or to point out faults, problems, or weaknesses. Depending on context, it can describe anything from a measured assessment to strong disapproval.

Sie kritisiert den Vorschlag. — “She criticizes the proposal.”
Der Bericht kritisiert die hohen Kosten. — “The report criticizes the high costs.”

Grammar & word origin

Kritisieren is a regular verb and is usually used with a direct object: jemanden/etwas kritisieren (“to criticize someone/something”). Its past participle is kritisiert, and its present perfect uses haben: hat kritisiert.

The verb is formed from Kritik and the verb-forming ending -isieren. Kritik ultimately comes from the Greek word kritikē, meaning the art of judging or evaluating.

Synonyms & antonyms

bemängeln — to find fault with or object to a specific shortcoming; often more focused on a particular defect.
beanstanden — to formally object to something as incorrect or unacceptable; often used in official or professional contexts.
tadeln — to reprimand or scold; more personal and often more disapproving.
loben — to praise; an antonym when the criticism expresses disapproval.
anerkennen — to recognize or acknowledge merit; an antonym in contexts where something is being evaluated positively.

Common phrases & collocations

jemanden/etwas scharf kritisieren — to criticize someone or something harshly.
an etwas Kritik üben — to criticize something or express objections to it.
zu Recht kritisieren — to criticize justifiably.