cavil

Meaning

Verb

To criticise for petty or frivolous reasons.

Noun

A petty or trivial objection or criticism.

Synonyms

carp

quibble

find fault with

niggle

satirize

find fault

criticize

chicane

carp at

revile

quiddity

ridicule

nag

nitpick

complain

captious objection

nicety

nudge

particularity

pedantry

preciosity

punctiliousness

sophistication

split hairs

squeamishness

trifle

whine

find faults

word splitting

pane hammer

beef

noodge

caption

cavilling

crab

🦀

disagree

fastidious

fastidiousness

fault-finding

grizzle

grouch

grouse

grumble

higgle

kvetch

logomachy

minuteness

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkæv.əl/

Etymology

From Old French caviller (“mock, jest, rail”), from Latin cavillor (“jeer, mock, satirise, reason captiously”), from cavilla (“jeering, raillery, scoffing”); cognate with Italian cavillare, Portuguese cavillar, and Spanish cavilar; nominal usage developed within English from the original verbal usage.