kriitiliselt

Kriitiliselt is an Estonian adverb meaning “in a critical manner” or “critically.” It describes the way something is considered, evaluated, or analyzed, emphasizing scrutiny, questioning, or careful judgment rather than neutral reporting.

Kriitiliselt is commonly used in academic, journalistic, and analytical contexts. It signals that a statement, argument, or analysis is subject to evaluation and potential fault-finding. The nuance can be neutral or slightly evaluative, depending on the surrounding text. Common collocations include kriitiliselt hindama (to evaluate critically), kriitiliselt analüüsima (to analyze critically), and kriitiliselt mõtlema (to think critically).

Grammatical notes: kriitiliselt is formed from the adjective kriitiline (critical) by the usual Estonian adverbial derivation. It modifies verbs, adjectives, or clauses to indicate the manner of evaluation or thought. In usage, it often appears in sentences that discuss methodological rigor, evidential support, or the limitations of sources.

Examples:

- Ta hindas teksti kriitiliselt, märkides puudujääke argumentatsioonis.

- Uurimus käsitleb teemat kriitiliselt ja toob esile vasturääkivused.

- Õppija peab kriitiliselt mõtlema ja kontrollima allikate usaldusväärsust.

Etymology: kriitiliselt is derived from kriitiline (critical), which in turn relates to kriitika (criticism) and shares a common lineage with similar terms in many European languages. The word is standard in formal Estonian and is widely understood in scholarly and media discourse.