Cavil

/ˈkæv.əl/ · verb

Meaning

(intransitive) To criticise for petty or frivolous reasons..

Definitions by Sense

1. (intransitive) To criticise for petty or frivolous reasons.
2. A petty or trivial objection or criticism.

Example Sentences

'Tis love you cavil at: I am not Love.

Stranleigh found no difficulty in getting a cavalcade together at Bleacher’s station, an amazingly long distance west of New York. A man finds little trouble in obtaining what he wants, if he never cavils at the price asked, and is willing to pay in advance.

I wish you wouldn't cavil, Hilda.

At the Centenary Banquet of the G.W.R. [Great Western Railway] in 1935, the then Prince of Wales (afterwards King Edward VIII) honoured that railway with the title "The Royal Road," at which few will cavil in view of the long record of Royal Specials.

But their first supporting quotation, which is from The Selfish Gene, includes selfish genes that do have phenotypic effects. Far it be from me, however, to cavil at the honour of being quoted in the Oxford English Dictionary!

It is not worth while to spend your time in arguing against a cavil, but make him feel he is committing a sin to plead it, and thus enlist his conscience on your side.

Synonyms for cavil

Antonyms for cavil

Related Words

Word Forms

• cavils
• caviling
• cavilling
• caviled
• cavilled
• cavel
• cavell

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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