expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgements

I was very critical of the previous regime

expressing or involving an analysis of the merits and faults of a work of literature, music, or art

she never won the critical acclaim she sought

(of a situation or problem) having the potential to become disastrous; at a point of crisis

the floodwaters had not receded and the situation was still critical

relating to or denoting a point of transition from one state to another

if the density is less than a certain critical value the gravitational attraction will be too weak to halt the expansion

(of a nuclear reactor or fuel) maintaining a self-sustaining chain reaction

the reactor is due to go critical in October