hypercriticism

Noun

hypercriticism (countable and uncountable, plural hypercriticisms)

1. Excessive or unfairly harsh criticism.
   • Near-synonyms: (quibbling type) cavillation, cavilling, nitpicking, nitpickery, pettifogging, pettifoggery, hairsplitting, hair-splittery, splitting hairs; (demolishing type) excoriation, excoriating, bashing, trashing
   • The Publishers, in issuing this Autobiography of a man altogether out of and above the common ranks in which it was his lot to be born and to live—the publication of which, they are aware, has been awaited by many with considerable interest and curiosity—desire to explain that in passing it through...1881, John Younger, quoting J. & J.H. Rutherfurd, “Publishers' Note”, in Autobiography of John Younger, Shoemaker, St. Boswells, Kelso, Scotland: J. & J.H. Rutherfurd, pages iii–iv

   Synonyms:

   cavillation, cavilling, nitpicking, nitpickery, pettifogging, pettifoggery, hairsplitting, hair-splittery, splitting hairs, excoriation