Faultfind

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To habitually seek out or point out flaws, errors, or shortcomings in others or situations; to engage in constant criticism or censure; to act with a tendency to detect faults often beyond reasonable limits
2. To continually identify and criticize mistakes or defects in people or things, showing an inclination towards negative appraisal; to focus on imperfections persistently; to behave in a manner that consistently highlights shortcomings
3. To systematically search for or emphasize errors and faults in actions or objects; to adopt a critical stance that frequently diminishes efforts or qualities; to display a disposition toward finding imperfections excessively

Etymology: "Faultfind" is a back-formation, meaning it was created by removing a supposed suffix from an existing word. The older words "faultfinding" and "faultfinder" came first, formed from "fault" and "find," and speakers later treated the shared pattern as a base for a new verb. Its meaning follows its parts closely: "fault," an error or defect, and "find," to discover, so to faultfind is to discover and point out defects. The pattern is a simple one, so the verb has little history of its own. Its surprise lies in the process rather than in any shift of sense: a noun-based compound gave rise to a verb, and the verb took on the same flexible use as the words that spawned it.

Synonyms: criticize, censure, blame, find fault, nitpick

Antonyms: praise, commend, approve, compliment, endorse