self-critical
Definition
Adjective: Inclined to find fault with oneself; having a tendency to examine and judge one's own actions, abilities, or character critically.
Usage Examples
- (She tends to assess her own performance harshly.)
- (Moderate self-evaluation helps improve oneself.)
- (His habit of criticizing himself caused him to strive for flawlessness.)
Advanced Usage
"to be overly self-critical": to criticize oneself excessively, often to the point of harming self-esteem.
- She is overly self-critical about her appearance, even though others find her beautiful. (She judges herself too harshly regarding looks.)
"constructive self-critical analysis": a beneficial form of self-criticism aimed at improvement.
- The artist engaged in constructive self-critical analysis of her painting to refine her technique. (She evaluated her work positively to enhance skills.)
Variants and Related Words
Self-criticism (noun): the act of criticizing oneself.
- His self-criticism helped him avoid repeating mistakes. (His own fault-finding was useful.)
Self-critique (noun): a detailed evaluation of one's own work or behavior.
- She wrote a self-critique of her essay before submitting it. (She assessed her own writing.)
Synonyms
- Self-judging: inclined to judge oneself.
- Self-evaluating: habitually assessing one's own performance.
- Introspective: examining one's own thoughts and feelings, often with a critical lens.
Antonyms
- Self-indulgent: allowing oneself to avoid criticism or discipline.
- Self-approving: satisfied with oneself without fault-finding.
Related Idioms
One's own worst critic: a person who is more critical of themselves than anyone else is.
- He is his own worst critic; no one judges him as harshly as he judges himself. (He is extremely self-critical.)
To be hard on oneself: to treat oneself with excessive severity or criticism.
- Don't be so hard on yourself; everyone makes mistakes. (Stop being overly self-critical.)