self-criticism
noun
self-crit·i·cism
ˌself-ˈkri-tə-ˌsi-zəm 
plural self-criticisms
: the act of or capacity for criticizing one's own faults or shortcomings
To impress friends and potential employers, avoid complimenting yourself and trying to disguise it as self-criticism.—
Shana Lebowitz
Shana Lebowitz… he's learned discipline, beneficial self-criticism … and the ability to develop a regimen in his day-to-day life.—Hillary Gavan
Hillary GavanExamples of self-criticism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But, starting in my early 40s, the self-criticism began to quietly dial itself back.
—Mary Gaitskill, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2026
His point wasn’t self-criticism for show.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
Acknowledge anxiety, sadness or grief with openness, instead of trying to suppress those feelings or fueling them with harsh self-criticism.
—J. David Creswell, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
Beliefs peppered with self-criticism can tank motivation, but turning negative self-talk into more positive language can fuel tenacity.
—Nir Eyal, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2026
The clean prose, self-criticism, and psychological insight give Young Man in a Hurry a reason to exist beyond legitimizing a book tour through the early-primary and swing states.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
The Thursday before that, they were thrashed 4-0 at Atletico Madrid in their Copa del Rey semi-final first leg — a defeat that prompted significant self-criticism and reflection on their style of play.
—Pol Ballús, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
But what seems to be lacking is any sense of humility or self-criticism.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The ruthless annihilating self-criticism silenced by looking into your big brown eyes, a mirror and a time machine.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
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Mary Gaitskill, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2026
His point wasn’t self-criticism for show.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
Acknowledge anxiety, sadness or grief with openness, instead of trying to suppress those feelings or fueling them with harsh self-criticism.
—J. David Creswell, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
Beliefs peppered with self-criticism can tank motivation, but turning negative self-talk into more positive language can fuel tenacity.
—Nir Eyal, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2026
The clean prose, self-criticism, and psychological insight give Young Man in a Hurry a reason to exist beyond legitimizing a book tour through the early-primary and swing states.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
The Thursday before that, they were thrashed 4-0 at Atletico Madrid in their Copa del Rey semi-final first leg — a defeat that prompted significant self-criticism and reflection on their style of play.
—Pol Ballús, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
But what seems to be lacking is any sense of humility or self-criticism.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The ruthless annihilating self-criticism silenced by looking into your big brown eyes, a mirror and a time machine.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-criticism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-criticism. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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