French word

criant

Pronunciation

IPA/kʁijɑ̃/

Meaning

  • adjectivepressing

Example

Il y a un besoin criant de bénévoles.

There is a pressing need for volunteers.

Illustration for criant (pressing)

More examples

Le manque criant de médecins inquiète la population.

The severe shortage of doctors is worrying the population.

Core concept

A need or injustice that seems to shout for attention and cannot be left unnoticed.

Common phrases

  • besoin criant

    pressing need

  • manque criant

    severe shortage

Similar words

urgent: Requiring immediate action, with almost no time to spare.
impératif: Making action unavoidable because a strong duty or demand must be met.
pressant: Requiring prompt action because delay could worsen the situation.

Definition in French

Qui, par son intensité ou sa flagrante évidence, manifeste un besoin ou une injustice qui ne peut être ignoré; emploi fréquent à l'écrit.

Word origin

French criant is the present participle of crier, from Old French crier and ultimately Latin quiritare, meaning 'to cry out'.

Usage tips

  • The adjective agrees with its noun: un besoin criant, une nécessité criante, des besoins criants, and des injustices criantes.

Opposites

  • insignifiantinsignificantadjective
  • négligeablenegligibleadjective

Related words

Word lists with this word