self-criticism

noun

self-crit·​i·​cism ˌself-ˈkri-tə-ˌsi-zəm How to pronounce self-criticism (audio)
plural self-criticisms
: the act of or capacity for criticizing one's own faults or shortcomings
To impress friends and potential employers, avoid complimenting yourself and trying to disguise it as self-criticism.Shana Lebowitz
… he's learned discipline, beneficial self-criticism … and the ability to develop a regimen in his day-to-day life.Hillary Gavan

Examples of self-criticism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The campaign prompted women to question their self-criticism and embrace a kinder, gentler self-image. Renae Gregoire, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024 Acknowledge your emotions without harsh self-criticism, and remind yourself that everyone experiences setbacks. Quora, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2024 She was so wracked with self-criticism that working on the book became incredibly difficult for her. Brianne Tracy, Peoplemag, 25 Sep. 2024 Completing a Yurchenko double pike is hard enough without looping self-criticism. Megan Sauer, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2024 Now, a look at how the film was made and Lewis’ subsequent self-criticism will play in Venice, organizers have confirmed while revealing the full lineup for this year’s 81st Venice Film Festival on Tuesday. Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 July 2024 Self-compassion has been correlated with lower levels of social anxiety and self-criticism. Emma Nadler, Washington Post, 23 June 2024 While internal or mental symptoms could include perfectionism, excessive worry, fear of disappointment, racing thoughts, fear of losing control, significant self-criticism, fear of impending doom, overthinking or overanalyzing, and an inability to relax. Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 14 June 2024 Europe, facing new conflict, recalls what their comrades died for. June 6, 2024 At first blush, the town seems, well, too unabashedly and in-your-face American for a country that revels in self-criticism and understatement. Catherine Porter Andrea Mantovani, New York Times, 7 June 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-criticism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1780, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-criticism was in 1780

Dictionary Entries Near self-criticism

Cite this Entry

“Self-criticism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-criticism. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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