animadversion

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
animadversion
    n 1: harsh criticism or disapproval [syn: {censure},
         {animadversion}]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Animadversion \An`i*mad*ver"sion\, n. [L. animadversio, fr.
   animadvertere: cf. F. animadversion. See {Animadvert}.]
   1. The act or power of perceiving or taking notice; direct or
      simple perception. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            The soul is the sole percipient which hath
            animadversion and sense, properly so called.
                                                  --Glanvill.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Monition; warning. [Obs.] --Clarendon.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Remarks by way of criticism and usually of censure;
      adverse criticism; reproof; blame.
      [1913 Webster]

            He dismissed their commissioners with severe and
            sharp animadversions.                 --Clarendon.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Judicial cognizance of an offense; chastisement;
      punishment. [Archaic] "Divine animadversions." --Wesley.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: Stricture; criticism; censure; reproof; blame; comment.
        [1913 Webster]
    
from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
46 Moby Thesaurus words for "animadversion":
      accusation, adverse criticism, aspersion, bad notices, bad press,
      captiousness, carping, cavil, caviling, censoriousness, censure,
      criticism, exception, faultfinding, flak, hairsplitting, hit,
      home thrust, hostile criticism, hypercriticalness, hypercriticism,
      imputation, insinuation, knock, nagging, niggle, niggling, nit,
      nit-picking, obloquy, overcriticalness, pestering, pettifogging,
      priggishness, quibble, quibbling, rap, reflection, reprehension,
      reproachfulness, slam, slur, stricture, swipe, taking exception,
      trichoschistism

    

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