Master confusing words with ease
Hypercritical vs. Hypocritical
Hypercritical
/hʌɪpəˈkrɪtɪk(ə)l/Examples:
His hypercritical nature often caused tension in meetings.She was hypercritical of every decision, slowing progress.Being hypercritical can drive a wedge between colleagues.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Hypocritical
Examples:
She criticized his hypocritical stance on climate change.His hypocritical persona masked his true intentions.The company's policies were seen as hypocritical by employees.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Remember that hypercritical has the word critical, indicating an excess of criticism.
- Tie the prefix hyper- to think of something being over the normal, like being overly harsh in judgment.
- The prefix hypo- in hypocritical suggests an underlying falseness or insincerity.
- Visualize hypercritical as someone with a magnifying glass, examining too closely.
- Imagine hypocritical like wearing a mask, hiding true intentions or beliefs.
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