cavil

verb

cav·il ˈka-vəl How to pronounce cavil (audio)

caviled or cavilled; caviling or cavilling ˈka-və-liŋ How to pronounce cavil (audio)

ˈkav-liŋ

intransitive verb

: to raise trivial and frivolous objection

The author caviled about the design of the book's cover.

transitive verb

: to raise trivial objections to

He caviled the conditions of the agreement.

cavil noun

caviler noun

or caviller

ˈka-və-lər How to pronounce cavil (audio)

ˈkav-lər

Did you know?

You must be joking! That's just one of the things you might be tempted to exclaim if you found yourself quarreling with a caviler - and you'd be right, etymologically speaking at least. Cavil derives from the Latin verb cavillari, meaning "to jest" or "to raise silly objections," which in turn derives from the Latin noun cavilla, meaning "raillery." In case you're wondering, "cavil" is not related to the adjective "cavalier" ("marked by or given to offhand and often disdainful dismissal of important matters"). "Cavalier," which is also a noun for a gentleman trained in arms and horsemanship, traces back via Middle French to the Late Latin caballarius, meaning "horseman."

Example Sentences

I don't intend to cavil or compromise. A customer caviled about the price.

Recent Examples on the Web As much as Republicans want to cavil about the efficiency of state government, the truth is that the healthcare system in place now is the very antithesis of effectiveness and efficiency.

Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2022 However, the actual interiors of this four-bedroom home are nothing to cavil at.

Kelly Corbett, House Beautiful, 7 Oct. 2020

cavil 1 of 2

verb

as in to complain

to make often peevish criticisms or objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant caviled for hours about a single sentence

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

complain
quibble
nitpick
carp
niggle
fuss
moan
mutter
split hairs
whine
criticize
fault
gripe
bellyache
bitch
grumble
grouse
kvetch
beef
murmur
squawk
squeal
wail
yammer
whimper
growl
yawp
yowl
crab
kick
croak
yaup

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

commend
applaud
praise
recommend
endorse
approve
compliment
indorse
support
back
champion

cavil

2 of 2

noun

as in quibble

Synonyms & Similar Words

quibble
quarrel
doubt
objection
dispute
demur
squabble
criticism
scruple
compunction
misunderstanding
niggle
qualm
censure
static
dissent
protest
debate
exception
argument
misgiving
remonstrance
demurrer
expostulation
demurral
disobedience
challenge
conflict
uncertainty
skepticism
suspicion
reluctance
unwillingness
incertitude
distrust
question
stink
mistrust
rebellion
complaint
unease
reservation
difficulty
dubiety
defiance
indetermination
uneasiness
hassle
misdoubt
fuss
dubitation
distrustfulness
mistrustfulness
kick
qualmishness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

willingness
sanction
agreement
approval
acceptance
assent
acquiescence
compliance
obedience

单词	cavil
释义	cavil verb cav·il ˈka-vəl caviled or cavilled; caviling or cavilling ˈka-və-liŋ ˈkav-liŋ intransitive verb : to raise trivial and frivolous objection The author caviled about the design of the book's cover. transitive verb : to raise trivial objections to He caviled the conditions of the agreement. cavil noun caviler noun or caviller ˈka-və-lər ˈkav-lər Did you know? You must be joking! That's just one of the things you might be tempted to exclaim if you found yourself quarreling with a caviler - and you'd be right, etymologically speaking at least. Cavil derives from the Latin verb cavillari, meaning "to jest" or "to raise silly objections," which in turn derives from the Latin noun cavilla, meaning "raillery." In case you're wondering, "cavil" is not related to the adjective "cavalier" ("marked by or given to offhand and often disdainful dismissal of important matters"). "Cavalier," which is also a noun for a gentleman trained in arms and horsemanship, traces back via Middle French to the Late Latin caballarius, meaning "horseman." Synonyms carp fuss niggle nitpick quibble See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences I don't intend to cavil or compromise. A customer caviled about the price. Recent Examples on the Web As much as Republicans want to cavil about the efficiency of state government, the truth is that the healthcare system in place now is the very antithesis of effectiveness and efficiency. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2022 However, the actual interiors of this four-bedroom home are nothing to cavil at. Kelly Corbett, House Beautiful, 7 Oct. 2020 Word History Etymology Latin cavillari to jest, cavil, from cavilla raillery; akin to Latin calvi to deceive — more at calumny First Known Use 1542, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense Phrases Containing cavil beyond cavil beyond cavil cavil 1 of 2 verb as in to complain to make often peevish criticisms or objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant caviled for hours about a single sentence Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance complain quibble nitpick carp niggle fuss moan mutter split hairs whine criticize fault gripe bellyache bitch grumble grouse kvetch beef murmur squawk squeal wail yammer whimper growl yawp yowl crab kick croak yaup Antonyms & Near Antonyms commend applaud praise recommend endorse approve compliment indorse support back champion See More cavil 2 of 2 noun as in quibble Synonyms & Similar Words quibble quarrel doubt objection dispute demur squabble criticism scruple compunction misunderstanding niggle qualm censure static dissent protest debate exception argument misgiving remonstrance demurrer expostulation demurral disobedience challenge conflict uncertainty skepticism suspicion reluctance unwillingness incertitude distrust question stink mistrust rebellion complaint unease reservation difficulty dubiety defiance indetermination uneasiness hassle misdoubt fuss dubitation distrustfulness mistrustfulness kick qualmishness Antonyms & Near Antonyms willingness sanction agreement approval acceptance assent acquiescence compliance obedience See More
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cavil

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing cavil

verb

noun