Meaning & use
to be judgemental
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Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
to have a tendency to criticize or judge other people harshly
Grammar: Used with 'be' as the verb: 'She is judgemental.' Often followed by 'about' or 'of': 'judgemental about others.'
Patterns
- be judgemental about someone
- be judgemental of something
- be judgemental towards someone
Try not to be judgemental about people you don't know.
He is very judgemental of others' choices.
She felt her mother was being judgemental about her career.
Common combinations
- be judgemental about
- Don't be so judgemental about his accent.
- be judgemental of
- The teacher was judgemental of students who arrived late.
- be overly judgemental
- She can be overly judgemental when she's tired.
Synonyms and how they differ
- critical
- Similar, but 'critical' can also mean 'important' or 'analytical'; 'judgemental' always implies a negative, personal judgment.
- censorious
- More formal and literary; it means strongly disapproving, while 'judgemental' is more everyday.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: to be judgemental or judgmental?
to be judgemental vs judgmental
This is the American spelling. In British English, 'judgemental' is more common. Both mean the same thing.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'judgemental' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The correct preposition is 'about' (or 'of'). The other prepositions do not fit the meaning 'critical about something'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “to be judgemental”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.