All 17 Uses of

critical
in
This Side of Paradise

But Beatrice was critical about American women, especially the floating population of ex-Westerners.†
Chpt 1.1 *

Several times he could have sworn that men turned to look at him critically.†
Chpt 1.2

By afternoon Amory realized that now the newest arrivals were taking him for an upper classman, and he tried conscientiously to look both pleasantly blase and casually critical, which was as near as he could analyze the prevalent facial expression.†
Chpt 1.2

As they pushed out, giving and receiving curious impersonal glances, Amory decided that he liked the movies, wanted to enjoy them as the row of upper classmen in front had enjoyed them, with their arms along the backs of the seats, their comments Gaelic and caustic, their attitude a mixture of critical wit and tolerant amusement.†
Chpt 1.2

I have said they had reached a very definite stage—nay, more, a very critical stage.†
Chpt 1.2

Besides, I have to think all the time I'm talking to you—you're so critical.†
Chpt 1.3

Asker of questions....How he'll stand, With earnest air and fidgy hand, After this hour, telling you He sat all night and burrowed through Your book....Oh, you'll be coy and he Will simulate precosity, And pedants both, you'll smile and smirk, And leer, and hasten back to work.... 'Twas this day week, sir, you returned A theme of mine, from which I learned (Through various comment on the side Which you had scrawled) that I defied The highest rules of criticism For cheap and careless witticism.... 'Are you quite sure that this could be?'†
Chpt 1.3

The critical qualities which had spoiled for each of them a dozen romances were dulled by the great wave of emotion that washed over them.†
Chpt 2.1

But we no sooner get a popular reformer or politician or soldier or writer or philosopher—a Roosevelt, a Tolstoi, a Wood, a Shaw, a Nietzsche, than the cross-currents of criticism wash him away.†
Chpt 2.2

You, Tom d'Invilliers, a blighted Shelley, changing, shifting, clever, unscrupulous, represent the critical consciousness of the race—Oh, don't protest, I know the stuff.†
Chpt 2.2

Too many voices, too much scattered, illogical, ill-considered criticism.†
Chpt 2.2

"It does very well," agreed Amory critically, and then as an after-thought: "It's almost breakfast-time—do you want something to eat?"†
Chpt 2.4 *

Definitions:

(1) (critical as in: a critical problem)
important, serious, or dangerous
(2) (critical as in: don't be so critical)
finding fault and telling others; or tending to have unfavorable opinions
(3) (critical as in: critical acclaim)
relating to careful analysis or thoughtful judgement of what is good and bad about something -- possibly from people whose job is to share their expert opinions in a given industry
(4) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
meaning too rare to warrant focus:

See a comprehensive dictionary for more specialized senses of critical including those in mathematics and nuclear energy.