Cavil
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈkæv.əl/ · Part of speech verb
Quick meaning: Cavil is a verb meaning (intransitive) To criticise for petty or frivolous reasons.
Meaning
(intransitive) To criticise for petty or frivolous reasons.
More Meanings
- A petty or trivial objection or criticism.
Example Sentences
I wish you wouldn't cavil, Hilda.
'Tis love you cavil at: I am not Love.
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.
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!
Word Forms
- cavils
- caviling
- cavilling
- caviled
- cavilled
- cavel
- cavell
Synonyms for cavil
Depending on context, synonyms include nitpick, pettifog, chicane, carp.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include chicane, carp, quibble, complain, object, beef.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.