animadversion

animadversion, stricture, aspersion, reflection denote a remark or statement that is an adverse criticism.

Animadversion (compare animadvert at REMARK) implies as its motive deep-seated prejudice or ill will or a tendency to carp or cavil

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given to animadversions on the clergy

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Maty’s animadversions hurt me more. In part they appeared to me unjust, and in part ill-natured— Cowper

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Stricture implies censure, which may be either ill-natured or judicious

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foreign strictures on the dress, looks, and behavior of the English abroad— Arnold

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the lash of the merciless Porson . . . [whose] strictures are founded in argument, enriched with learning, and enlivened with wit— Gibbon

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Aspersion imputes a slanderous character to the criticism

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who by aspersions throw a stone at th’ head of others, hit their own— Herbert

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at Cambridge (they tell me) while you speak very well, you write less expertly . . . . you will not set the aspersion down to me— Quiller-Couch

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Reflection often implies indirect aspersion or a defamatory imputation which may be inferred from what has been said

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he cannot restrain himself from reflections on kings and priests when he is most contending for them— Hallam

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the reflections on certain named persons’ chastity and honesty— Geographical Jour.

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Analogous words: criticism, reprehension, censure (see corresponding verbs at CRITICIZE): observation, comment, *remark: captiousness, faultfinding, caviling, carping, censoriousness (see corresponding adjectives at CRITICAL)

Antonyms: commendation

Contrasted words: praise, laudation, extollation, acclaim (see corresponding verbs at PRAISE): *approbation, approval