criticare

Criticare, in Italian, is a verb meaning to express disapproval of something or to evaluate it through analysis and judgment. It covers both the act of giving a reasoned assessment of ideas, works, or actions and the more negative act of fault-finding. The context determines whether the tone is constructive or hostile. The noun form critica refers to a critique or critical review; critico can denote the person who performs the critique or something described as critical.

Etymology and scope: The word derives from Greek kritikos (“able to discern”) via Latin criticus and, through French, into Italian as criticare. The related noun critica is widely used in philosophy, art, literature, film, and politics to denote systematic evaluation or analysis.

Usage and nuance: In formal or scholarly contexts, criticare implies a reasoned, evidence-based analysis—for example, critico una teoria or la critica letteraria analizza la coerenza narrativa. In everyday speech, it may simply mean to fault or rebuke someone, as in criticare una scelta senza comprenderne le ragioni. The verb coexists with altri verbi such as giudicare, valutare, and elaborare una critica, allowing both constructive and adverse meanings depending on tone and intent.

See also: Critique, criticism. In English, the closest equivalents are “to criticize” or “to critique.”