critical

Adjective

• of or involving or characteristic of critics or criticism
  • critical acclaim
    

• 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
    

• forming or having the nature of a turning point or crisis
  • a critical point in the campaign
    
  • the critical test
    

• urgently needed; absolutely necessary
  • a critical element of the plan
    
  • critical medical supplies
    
  • vital for a healthy society
    
  • of vital interest
    

• characterized by careful evaluation and judgment
  • a critical reading
    
  • a critical dissertation
    
  • a critical analysis of Melville's writings
    

• 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
    

• marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws
  • a critical attitude
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  decisive , vital
• Antonyms: 
  noncritical , noncrucial , uncritical