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Mockery vs Criticism - What's the difference?

mockery | criticism |

As nouns the difference between mockery and criticism

is that mockery is the action of mocking; ridicule, derision while criticism is the act of criticising; a critical judgment passed or expressed; a critical observation or detailed examination and review; a critique; animadversion; censure.

mockery

English

Noun

(mockeries)
  • The action of mocking; ridicule, derision.
  • Something so lacking in necessary qualities as to inspire ridicule; a laughing-stock.
  • (obsolete) Something insultingly imitative; an offensively futile action, gesture etc.
  • Mimicry, imitation, now usually in a derogatory sense; a travesty, a ridiculous simulacrum.
  • The defendant wasn't allowed to speak at his own trial - it was a mockery of justice.

    Usage notes

    * We often use make a mockery' of someone or something, meaning to ' mock them. See also

    Synonyms

    * See also

    criticism

    Noun

  • The act of criticising; a critical judgment passed or expressed; a critical observation or detailed examination and review; a critique; animadversion; censure.
  • The politician received a lot of public criticism for his controversial stance on the issue.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1874, author=Thomas Hardy, title=Far From the Madding Crowd, publisher=Barnes & Noble Classics (2005 publication of 1912 Wessex edition), page=276,
  • passage=Her attitude was that of a person who listens, either to the external world of sound, or to the discourse of thought. A close criticism might have detected signs proving that she was intent on the latter alternative.}}

    Derived terms

    * self-criticism * constructive criticism * destructive criticism * literary criticism

    References

    * *