oordeelende

Oordeelende is a Dutch term used as an adjective or present participle derived from the verb oordelen, meaning to judge. It describes someone or something that forms judgments or evaluations, often implying a evaluative or critical stance. In general usage, an oordeelende attitude or remark tends to assess others or situations, sometimes with a quick or speculative judgment.

Etymology and grammar: Oordeelende is formed from the noun oordeel (judgment) combined with the participial suffix -ende. It can modify nouns (een oordeelende houding, een oordeelende blik) or function predicatively in sentences. In compound forms, it is common to see phrases such as niet-oordelende, which signals a non-judgmental stance. The word is closely related to other forms linked to oordelen, such as the abstract concept of a judgment and the act of judging.

Usage and nuance: The term often carries a negative or cautionary nuance in everyday talk, signaling that someone tends to judge quickly or harshly. It is also used in more neutral or descriptive contexts to label a process or mode of evaluation, for example in analyses that involve critical assessment. In mindfulness or psychology, the antonym niet-oordelend describes a stance of observing without judgment, a term popular in discussions of awareness and communication.

Related terms: oordeel (judgment); oordelen (to judge); niet-oordelend (non-judgmental). The choice between oordeelend(oordeelse) and synonymous forms can vary by region or style, but oordeelende remains a common, neutral descriptor in contemporary Dutch.