adj. 25B6; adjective
a highly critical report : CENSORIOUS, condemnatory, condemning, denunciatory, disparaging, disapproving, scathing, fault-finding, judgemental, negative, unfavourable; informal nit-picking, picky.
a critical essay : EVALUATIVE, analytical, interpretative, expository, explanatory.
the situation is critical : GRAVE, serious, dangerous, risky, perilous, hazardous, precarious, touch-and-go, in the balance, uncertain, parlous, desperate, dire, acute, life-and-death.
the choice of materials is critical for product safety : CRUCIAL, vital, essential, of the essence, all-important, paramount, fundamental, key, pivotal, decisive, deciding, climacteric.
complimentary, unimportant.