critical

(a) marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws
- a critical attitude
(a) at or of a point at which a property or phenomenon suffers an abrupt change especially having enough mass to sustain a chain reaction
- a critical temperature of water is 100 degrees C--its boiling point at standard atmospheric pressure
- critical mass
- go critical
(a) characterized by careful evaluation and judgment
- a critical reading
- a critical dissertation
- a critical analysis of Melville's writings
(s) urgently needed; absolutely necessary
- a critical element of the plan
- critical medical supplies
- vital for a healthy society
- of vital interest
vital,
(s) forming or having the nature of a turning point or crisis
- a critical point in the campaign
- the critical test
decisive,
(a) being in or verging on a state of crisis or emergency
- a critical shortage of food
- a critical illness
- an illness at the critical stage
(a) of or involving or characteristic of critics or criticism
- critical acclaim

vital decisive

uncritical noncritical noncrucial

critical analysis critical angle critical appraisal criticality critically critical mass criticalness critical point critical review