censorious

USAGE SUMMARY

'censorious' is a word that is used in written English.
It is an adjective meaning criticizing harshly and is typically used when someone has expressed disapproval of something. Example sentence: The movie critic was censorious in his review of the latest summer blockbuster.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Students' own representative bodies are far more censorious than universities," says Slater.

The Guardian

Still, if anyone knows, please inform us before the censorious moderators get to work again (again)." In fairness there is no conclusive evidence about who is behind the trolling, although Guardian moderators, who deal with 40,000 comments a day, believe there is an orchestrated campaign.

The Guardian - Opinion

If that wasn't enough, the censorious Daily Mail is alarmed by their unruly conduct.

The Guardian

But the censorious inflection of this year's edition is striking.

The Economist

Elizabethan antis, in an early example of censorious scapegoating, were also minded to blame growing levels of public drunkenness on decadent foreign, or Catholic, influences.

The Economist

Bluto (played by the now immortal John Belushi) was rallying the beleaguered brothers of Delta Tau Chi, victims of the censorious Dean Vernon Wormer and his campaign to obliterate the fraternity of debauched misfits.

The Economist

Mr Cameron enables the party to take conservative positions on social and cultural issues without sounding censorious.

The Economist

But if the right lessons are learned by all involved, there is less reason to despair than Indonesia's censorious editorial writers would have the nation, and the world, believe.

The Economist

In the process the Tory party ended up sounding censorious about single parents, thereby getting on the wrong side of a demographic trend that has helped to keep it out of power ever since.

The Economist

The backlash was censorious, strict in its views on the family and personal morality, and predominantly suburban.

The Economist

But there are other factors that sometimes conspire to produce an atmosphere that seems almost as hysterical: a tabloid media that are at once sensationalist and stridently censorious; a reductively adversarial parliament; and a centralised system of government, in which the fault for almost any cock-up can be traced to the top.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "censorious" when you want to emphasize a harsh and overly critical attitude, particularly towards the behavior or opinions of others.

Common error

Avoid using "censorious" when you mean "censorial". "Censorial" relates to censorship, the act of suppressing speech or expression, while "censorious" describes someone who is harshly critical.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "censorious" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe someone or something characterized by a tendency to criticize severely. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word fits well in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Encyclopedias

9%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Science

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "censorious" is a versatile adjective used to describe someone with a strong inclination to criticize severely. According to Ludwig AI, its usage is grammatically correct. With a notable presence in News & Media sources, "censorious" helps writers express disapproval and highlight fault-finding attitudes. Common synonyms include "critical" and "judgmental", but it's important to differentiate "censorious" from "censorial" to avoid word confusion. When aiming to depict harsh and overly critical behavior, "censorious" is a powerful and appropriate choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

critical

A more general term for expressing disapproval or finding fault.

condemning

Expresses strong disapproval, often with a moral judgment.

judgmental

Implies forming opinions, often negative, about others.

reproachful

Expresses disapproval or disappointment.

hypercritical

Suggests an excessive and often unfair level of criticism.

severe

Suggests harshness in judgment or treatment.

fault-finding

Focuses on the act of actively seeking out flaws and errors.

captious

Tending to find fault or raise petty objections.

strict

Implies adhering rigidly to rules or principles, often leading to criticism of those who don't.

nitpicking

Focuses on minor details and imperfections.

FAQs

How can I use "censorious" in a sentence?

You can use "censorious" to describe someone who is harshly critical, like "The professor was "censorious" of the student's essay."

What's a good synonym for "censorious"?

Synonyms for "censorious" include "critical", "judgmental", or "hypercritical", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "censorious" and "critical"?

"Censorious" implies a harsher and more fault-finding attitude than simply being "critical". "Critical" can be constructive, whereas "censorious" is often purely negative.

When is it appropriate to describe someone as "censorious"?

It's appropriate to describe someone as "censorious" when they consistently express strong disapproval and find fault with others' actions or opinions, often to an excessive degree.