is highly critical

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is highly critical" is correct and can be used in written English.
It implies that someone or something has a strong opinion about the given subject. For example: "The professor's comments on the student's paper is highly critical."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She is highly critical of the media.

The Guardian

Swithers is highly critical of Hill's study.

The Washington Post

Clegg is highly critical of Tories and others who want to leave the EU.

The Guardian

There is no classified information in this book, but it is highly critical.

The New Yorker

The consultation paper is highly critical of the deficiencies of the current legal framework.

The Guardian

(Mr. Pullman, who has described himself as an atheist, is highly critical of organized religion).

The New York Times - Books

Much of the Commission's report is highly critical of the actions taken by the ALP when in government.

The Guardian - Opinion

I understand this report is highly critical of MI5 etc and has been withheld from public view.

The Guardian

Even Ofsted, which is highly critical of schools, shows that the vast majority of schools are good or better.

The Guardian

The novel, by Dan Brown, explores art, feminism, conspiracies and murder and is highly critical of the Roman Catholic Church.

The New York Times

Amnesty International is highly critical of the Hamas "campaign of abductions, deliberate and unlawful killings, torture and death threats".

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is highly critical", ensure the subject and object of the criticism are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of saying "The report is highly critical", specify "The report is highly critical of the government's new policy".

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "is highly critical" as it can make your writing monotonous. Vary your sentence structure by using synonyms like "expresses strong disapproval" or rephrasing the sentence to emphasize the subject's perspective rather than the critical assessment itself.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is highly critical" functions as a predicative adjective phrase. It describes the subject by attributing to it a characteristic of expressing strong disapproval or finding significant faults. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and broad applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is highly critical" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to convey strong disapproval or negative assessment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely applicable across various contexts, particularly in news, academic writing, and professional communications. When using the phrase, clarity and specificity are key to avoiding ambiguity. While synonyms exist, such as "expresses strong disapproval" or "is sharply critical", "is highly critical" offers a concise and direct way to express judgment. Be mindful of overuse and vary sentence structure to maintain writing engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is sharply critical

Substitutes "highly" with "sharply", emphasizing the intensity of the criticism.

is severely critical

Similar to 'sharply critical', but uses 'severely' to denote a harsher critique.

expresses strong disapproval

Replaces "is highly critical" with a more descriptive phrase, focusing on the act of expressing disapproval.

voices strong objections

Focuses on the act of voicing objections rather than the degree of criticality.

is very disapproving of

Uses 'very disapproving' to soften a highly critical tone.

strongly disapproves of

Emphasizes disapproval, using a verb-based construction.

objects strongly to

Highlights the act of objecting with emphasis.

is deeply skeptical of

Shifts the focus to skepticism, implying a critical viewpoint.

takes a dim view of

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey disapproval.

finds significant fault with

Emphasizes the identification of faults or flaws.

FAQs

How can I use "is highly critical" in a sentence?

Use "is highly critical" to express strong disapproval or a negative assessment. For example, "The reviewer /s/is+highly+critical of the film's plot holes" or "The organization /s/is+highly+critical of the proposed environmental regulations".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "is highly critical"?

You can use alternatives such as "/s/expresses+strong+disapproval", "/s/is+sharply+critical", or "/s/voices+strong+objections depending on the context and the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it more appropriate to use "is highly critical" or "is strongly critical"?

Both "is highly critical" and "/s/is+strongly+critical" are grammatically correct and convey similar meanings. "Highly" might suggest a more elevated or formal tone, while "strongly" might imply a more forceful or direct criticism. The choice depends on the context.

What does it mean when something "is highly critical"?

When something "is highly critical", it means it expresses a strong level of disapproval, finds significant faults, or objects strongly to something. It indicates a negative assessment or judgment.