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View synonyms for cavil

cavil

[ kav-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

, cav·iled, cav·il·ing or (especially British) cav·illed, cav·il·ling.
  1. to raise irritating and trivial objections; find fault with unnecessarily (usually followed by at or about ):

    He finds something to cavil at in everything I say.

    Synonyms: criticize, complain, carp



verb (used with object)

, cav·iled, cav·il·ing or (especially British) cav·illed, cav·il·ling.
  1. to oppose by inconsequential, frivolous, or sham objections:

    to cavil each item of a proposed agenda.

noun

  1. a trivial and annoying objection.
  2. the raising of such objections.

cavil

/ ˈkævɪl /

verb

  1. intr; foll by at or about to raise annoying petty objections; quibble; carp


noun

  1. a captious trifling objection

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Derived Forms

  • ˈcavilling, adjective
  • ˈcaviller, noun

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Other Words From

  • cavil·er especially British, cavil·ler noun
  • cavil·ing·ly especially British, cavil·ling·ly adverb
  • outcavil verb (used with object) outcaviled outcaviling or (especially British) outcavilled outcavilling
  • un·cavil·ing adjective
  • un·cavil·ling adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of cavil1

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin cavillārī “to jeer, scoff, quibble,” derivative of cavilla “jesting, banter,” perhaps derivative of cav(us) “hollow”; cave ( def )

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Word History and Origins

Origin of cavil1

C16: from Old French caviller, from Latin cavillārī to jeer, from cavilla raillery

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Example Sentences

None of these cavils really matter, given that the revivified Sex and the City juggernaut is upon us.

It would be foolish to cavil about living in any city, with its many pleasures and diversions, he says.

There is no hesitation, cavil, or debate in the acceptance of it as a duty.

I should n't want to have it go abroad that we had not acted formally, if there was any one disposed to cavil.

Of this he complains, with some cause, as it afterwards occasioned numbers of unsanctified critics to laugh and cavil at him.

Some discontented Frerons or Arnauds, might cavil against it: but this was rebellion, not controversy.

This appeared to be a contradiction in terms, but public apathy accepted it without cavil.

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