hypercritical

[ hahy-per-krit-i-kuhl ]

adjective

1. excessively or meticulously critical; overcritical.

hypercritical

/ ˌhaɪpəˈkrɪtɪkəl /

adjective

1. excessively or severely critical; carping; captious

Derived Forms

• ˌhyperˈcritiˌcism, noun
• ˌhyperˈcritic, noun
• ˌhyperˈcritically, adverb

Other Words From

• hyper·criti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypercritical¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; hyper- + critical

Example Sentences

So sometimes I think I would overreact over little things just because I’m hypercritical of myself.

From Essence.com

Her mother ran the household with a hypercritical eye, although she could stand only for short periods.

From Washington Post

Quite a number of Marxian critics find themselves in the same position as the hypercritical French sculptor.

From Project Gutenberg

To be hypercritical, I might suggest that perhaps occasionally the version is rather too literal.

From Project Gutenberg

Be not hypercritical, for Heart's sake, against a man whose aim it is to help the cause of Heart.

From Project Gutenberg

The public ear has become dainty, fastidious, hypercritical; hence the Ballad-Singer languishes and dies.

From Project Gutenberg

The rest of the evening I could enjoy to my heart's content with no hypercritical glances following me around.

From Project Gutenberg