Cavil
verb
To complain about unimportant things in a way that is not reasonable.
He's always caviling about the minor errors in the report.
Often appears as...
- cavil at
- cavil about
verb
To complain about unimportant things in a way that is not reasonable.
He's always caviling about the minor errors in the report.
Often appears as...
- cavil at
- cavil about
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Cavil implies unnecessary criticism, suggesting pickiness and dissatisfaction.
He continued to cavil over the event’s minor setbacks, annoying the rest of the team.
Pro Tip 2/3Unreasonable Complaints
Use 'cavil' when the complaints seem petty or too detailed to be valid concerns.
After winning the game, it seemed odd for him to cavil about the color of the uniforms.
Pro Tip 3/3Seldom Praise
Cavil is rarely used in positive contexts; it indicates a tendency to find faults.
His mentor would often cavil at his work, instead of providing encouragement.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Cavil implies unnecessary criticism, suggesting pickiness and dissatisfaction.
He continued to cavil over the event’s minor setbacks, annoying the rest of the team.
Pro Tip 2/3Unreasonable Complaints
Use 'cavil' when the complaints seem petty or too detailed to be valid concerns.
After winning the game, it seemed odd for him to cavil about the color of the uniforms.
Pro Tip 3/3Seldom Praise
Cavil is rarely used in positive contexts; it indicates a tendency to find faults.
His mentor would often cavil at his work, instead of providing encouragement.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Cavil implies unnecessary criticism, suggesting pickiness and dissatisfaction.
He continued to cavil over the event’s minor setbacks, annoying the rest of the team.
Pro Tip 2/3Unreasonable Complaints
Use 'cavil' when the complaints seem petty or too detailed to be valid concerns.
After winning the game, it seemed odd for him to cavil about the color of the uniforms.
Pro Tip 3/3Seldom Praise
Cavil is rarely used in positive contexts; it indicates a tendency to find faults.
His mentor would often cavil at his work, instead of providing encouragement.
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Quote examples
Walt Whitman
American Poet
I say that democracy can never prove itself beyond cavil, until it founds and luxuriantly grows its own forms of art, poems, schools, theology, displacing all that exists, or that has been produced anywhere in the past, under opposite influences.
Quote examples
Michael Dirda
American Critic
I don't think of myself as a critic at all. I'm a reviewer and essayist. I mainly hope to share with others my pleasure in the books and authors I write about, though sometimes I do need to cavil and point out shortcomings.
Quote examples
Nostradamus
French Celebrity
The young man, born to rule England, which his dying father commended to him. Once his father is dead, London will cavil. The kingdom is taken back from his son.
Quote examples
William Wycherley
English Dramatist
Bluster, sputter, question, cavil; but be sure your argument be intricate enough to confound the court.
Quote examples
Walt Whitman
American Poet
I say that democracy can never prove itself beyond cavil, until it founds and luxuriantly grows its own forms of art, poems, schools, theology, displacing all that exists, or that has been produced anywhere in the past, under opposite influences.
Quote examples
Michael Dirda
American Critic
I don't think of myself as a critic at all. I'm a reviewer and essayist. I mainly hope to share with others my pleasure in the books and authors I write about, though sometimes I do need to cavil and point out shortcomings.
Quote examples
Nostradamus
French Celebrity
The young man, born to rule England, which his dying father commended to him. Once his father is dead, London will cavil. The kingdom is taken back from his son.
Quote examples
William Wycherley
English Dramatist
Bluster, sputter, question, cavil; but be sure your argument be intricate enough to confound the court.
Example 1 of 4
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