(adj): tending to find and call attention to faults
(adj): harshly critical or expressing censure
(adj): given to expressing disapproval
(adj): inclined to judge too severely
(adj): severely critical
(adj): marked by harshly abusive criticism
(adj): vs. noncritical) -- (at or of a point at which a property or phenomenon suffers an abrupt change especially having enough mass to sustain a chain reaction
(adj): (especially of fissionable material) able to sustain a chain reaction in such a manner that the rate of reaction increases
(adj): vs. uncritical) -- (characterized by careful evaluation and judgment
(adj): prenominal), evaluative -- (exercising or involving careful evaluations
(adj): expressing careful judgment
(adj): urgently needed; absolutely necessary
(adj): vs. dispensable) -- (not to be dispensed with; essential
(adj): forming or having the nature of a turning point or crisis
(adj): vs. noncrucial), important -- (of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis
(adj): vs. noncritical) -- (being in or verging on a state of crisis or emergency
(adj): of critical importance and consequence
(adj): causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm
(adj): fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless
(adj): of or involving or characteristic of critics or criticism
Liberation. Social Contructionism. PoMo? Pedagogy? Help!!
A contranym: can mean "vital to success" (a critical component), or "disparaging" (a critical comment). (Wikipedia)