faultfinding
Hunting for flaws
Faultfinding is the habit of pointing out flaws, errors, or shortcomings in others.
The term carries a negative connotation—a faultfinding person looks for problems rather than stumbling upon them: His constant faultfinding made everyone defensive.
As an adjective, it describes someone prone to criticism: a faultfinding supervisor.
Excessive focus on trivialities
- carpingTrivial persistent criticism
- naggingPersistent bothering or complaining
- complainingExpressing discontent verbally
- whiningProlonged nasal complaining
grumbling · grousing · griping · bellyaching · quibbling · caviling · bickering · sniping
Excessively prone to censure
- overcriticalExcessively prone to faultfinding
- censoriousSeverely critical in judgment
- captiousGiven to petty criticism
- judgmentalInclined to criticize others
disapproving · critical · picky · choosy · finicky · fussy · persnickety · fastidious
Detailed evaluative analysis
- criticismJudgment of faults
- censureFormal institutional disapproval
- reproachExpression of disappointment
- rebukeExpress sharp disapproval
condemnation · disparagement · denunciation · blame · accusation · complaint · objection · grievance
Formal assessment of condition
- examinationMethodical assessment or review
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- assessmentFormal evaluation of worth
- evaluationDetermining worth or quality
review · audit · appraisal · investigation · checking · vetting · monitoring · oversight
nitpicking
Excessive focus on trivialities
- carpingTrivial persistent criticism
- naggingPersistent bothering or complaining
- complainingExpressing discontent verbally
whining · grumbling · grousing · griping · bellyaching · quibbling · caviling · bickering · sniping · hectoring
hypercritical
Excessively prone to censure
- overcriticalExcessively prone to faultfinding
- censoriousSeverely critical in judgment
- captiousGiven to petty criticism
judgmental · disapproving · critical · picky · choosy · finicky · fussy · persnickety · fastidious · exacting
critique
Detailed evaluative analysis
- criticismJudgment of faults
- censureFormal institutional disapproval
- reproachExpression of disappointment
rebuke · condemnation · disparagement · denunciation · blame · accusation · complaint · objection · grievance · gripe
inspection
Formal assessment of condition
- examinationMethodical assessment or review
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- assessmentFormal evaluation of worth
evaluation · review · audit · appraisal · investigation · checking · vetting · monitoring · oversight · proofreading
- reproofsscolding, rebuke, reprimand, admonishment, admonition
- fussinessfussiness, pickiness, picky, nitpicky, persnickety
- nitpickingnitpicking, hairsplitter, splitting hairs, quibbling, cavil
- assessmentevaluating, test, analyzing, exam, assessing
- complaintscomplaint, complain, complaints, complaint form, complaint letter
- criticismcriticism, critique, review, feedback, opinion
faultfindingpraising
Voicing admiration
complimentary · appreciative · laudatory · admiring · commendatory
faultfindingforgiving
Inclined to pardon offenses
nonjudgmental · tolerant · accepting · charitable · lenient
fault, finding, find, found, faulty, default, faults, faultless, unfound