critical thinking
noun
1
: the act or practice of thinking critically (as by applying reason and questioning assumptions) in order to solve problems, evaluate information, discern biases, etc.
2
: the set of skills, methods, etc. involved in critical thinking
Media literacy enlivens how our schools teach critical thinking by serving as a bridge between the classroom and the world in which our young people live most of their waking lives.—
Wally Bowen
Wally BowenUsing the same skills used for centuries—analysis, synthesis, and evaluation—we must look at digital literacy as another realm within which to apply elements of critical thinking.—Barbara Jones-Kavalier and Suzanne Flannigan
—sometimes hyphenated when used before another noun
Barbara Jones-Kavalier and Suzanne FlanniganHelping students develop critical-thinking skills and information literacy is one of the core missions of libraries everywhere.—Nancy Pearl
Nancy PearlExamples of critical thinking in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In fact, 54% of the 3,000 executives from Russell Reynolds’ global network that the company surveyed are concerned that AI reliance is eroding critical thinking, and one-quarter are worried about AI inadvertently undermining product/service quality and critical internal process quality.
—Bob Violino, CNBC, 26 July 2025
Jeff Bezos famously believes people in high-pressure jobs need to carve out time for critical thinking.
—Hank Boughner, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
While the competition is aimed at pre-university mathematicians, the questions require critical thinking and an understanding of multiple mathematical disciplines, including algebra, combinatorics, geometry, and number theory.
—Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2025
Adolescence is a critical time to develop social and critical thinking skills and emotional regulation.
—Neda Ulaby, NPR, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for critical thinking
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Bob Violino, CNBC, 26 July 2025
Jeff Bezos famously believes people in high-pressure jobs need to carve out time for critical thinking.
—Hank Boughner, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
While the competition is aimed at pre-university mathematicians, the questions require critical thinking and an understanding of multiple mathematical disciplines, including algebra, combinatorics, geometry, and number theory.
—Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2025
Adolescence is a critical time to develop social and critical thinking skills and emotional regulation.
—Neda Ulaby, NPR, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for critical thinking
Cite this Entry
“Critical thinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/critical%20thinking. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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