carp
1 of 5verb
ˈkärp 
carped; carping; carps
intransitive verb
: to find fault or complain querulously
carper noun
carp
2 of 5noun (1)
: complaint
carp
3 of 5noun (2)
plural carp or carps
1
: a large variable Asian soft-finned freshwater cyprinid fish (Cyprinus carpio) of sluggish waters that is often raised for food and has been widely introduced into U.S. waters
also : any of various related cyprinid fishes (such as the grass carp)
2
: a fish (such as the European sea bream) resembling a carp
carp-
4 of 5combining form
variants or carpo-
: fruit
carpogonium
-carp
5 of 5noun combining form
: part of a fruit
mesocarp
: fruit schizocarp
Synonyms
Verb
- beef
- bellyache
- bitch
- bleat
- caterwaul
- complain
- crab
- croak
- fuss
- gripe
- grizzle
- grouch
- grouse
- growl
- grumble
- grump
- holler
- inveigh
- keen
- kick
- kvetch
- maunder [chiefly British]
- moan
- murmur
- mutter
- nag
- repine
- scream
- squawk
- squeal
- wail
- whimper
- whine
- whinge [British]
- yammer
- yawp
- yaup
- yowl
Noun (1)
- beef
- bitch
- bleat
- complaint
- fuss
- grievance
- gripe
- grouch
- grouse
- grumble
- holler
- kvetch
- lament
- miserere
- moan
- murmur
- plaint
- squawk
- wail
- whimper
- whine
- whinge [British]
- yammer
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb He's always carping about his boss. He's tired of always being carped at by his critics.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Icelandic karpa to dispute
Noun (2)
Middle English carpe, from Middle French, from Late Latin carpa, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German karpfo carp
Combining form
French & New Latin, from Greek karp-, karpo-, from karpos — more at harvest
Noun combining form
New Latin -carpium, from Greek -karpion, from karpos
First Known Use
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (1)
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing carp
Kids Definition
carp 1 of 2
verb
ˈkärp
carped; carping
: to complain in an annoying way
carp
2 of 2noun
: a freshwater fish that lives a long time and is often used for food
carped
verb
1
as in complained
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely someone who carps and whines about everything is a pain Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- complained
- whined
- screamed
- moaned
- groused
- muttered
- bitched
- grumbled
- bellyached
- griped
- grouched
- yammered
- whinged
- whimpered
- hollered
- grumped
- squawked
- worried
- growled
- bleated
- inveighed
- nagged
- kvetched
- caterwauled
- wailed
- squealed
- murmured
- cried
- kicked
- crabbed
- grizzled
- repined
- keened
- protested
- beefed
- yowled
- fussed
- croaked
- quibbled
- maundered
- yawped
- kicked up a stink
- fretted
- lamented
- yauped
- kicked up a fuss
- sobbed
- stewed
- cavilled
- deplored
- blubbered
- bewailed
- bemoaned
- caviled
- quarrelled (with)
- quarreled (with)
- objected (to)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rejoiced
- delighted
- accepted
- took
- crowed
- applauded
- endured
- tolerated
- cheered
- bore
- commended
- countenanced
2
as in quibbled
to make often peevish criticisms or objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant carped about the order of names on the wedding invitations Synonyms & Similar Words
- complained
- quibbled
- fussed
- nitpicked
- whined
- moaned
- criticized
- niggled
- cavilled
- bitched
- muttered
- groused
- caviled
- split hairs
- faulted
- bellyached
- griped
- grumbled
- yammered
- wailed
- squawked
- squealed
- kvetched
- crabbed
- kicked
- whimpered
- beefed
- yowled
- growled
- murmured
- croaked
- yawped
- yauped
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- praised
- commended
- recommended
- applauded
- complimented
- backed
- approved
- endorsed
- supported
- championed
- indorsed