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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in quibble
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of cavil
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2021
However, the actual interiors of this four-bedroom home are nothing to cavil at.
—Kelly Corbett, House Beautiful, 7 Oct. 2020
Verb
Naysayers often cavil that California’s economic growth depends almost entirely on Silicon Valley and the capital gains income of its wealthiest residents, but its primacy in high technology encompasses fields outside Northern California, such as biotech.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2021
However, the actual interiors of this four-bedroom home are nothing to cavil at.
—Kelly Corbett, House Beautiful, 7 Oct. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cavil
Verb
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Many residents at the town hall complained about feeling unsafe at their local Giant or Weis supermarkets, seeing panhandlers, loitering and graffiti in and around these areas.Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun, 16 Jan. 2025
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Some of the agency’s top Middle East diplomats complained in private that they were sidelined by Biden’s National Security Council.Brett Murphy, ProPublica, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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For all my minor quibbles, the movie has been lodged in my brain ever since May, with certain beats replaying in my head in much the same way that The Pink Opaque got stuck in Owen’s.Samantha Allen, Them, 14 Jan. 2025
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My only quibble: in what world is resigning Stanley a tough decision for our front office?Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Instead of nitpicking, lean into creating a seductive self-care routine: luxurious baths with candles, essential oils, and maybe a little solo exploration under the sheets to remind yourself of your natural fire.Dossé-Via Trenou, refinery29.com, 18 Dec. 2024
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People are sick of the Biden administration’s excessive overreach, including the intention to hire 87,000 new Internal Revenue Service agents to nitpick every aspect of their lives.Carol Miller, National Review, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The heads of corporate branding cook up a brief, a design firm answers with a litany of slides, and, after iterations, interventions, and internal quarrels, the sign arrives in the physical plane, with glossy acrylic letterforms and antiseptic light.Laura Preston, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
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The key is to keep communication clear and avoid overreacting to petty quarrels and misunderstandings.Valerie Mesa, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Palmieri also has a 16-team no-trade list but, like Nelson, certainly should not be fussed about being moved to a Cup contender for a few months.Arthur Staple, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025
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Later that day, the boys fuss around their grandmother at the dinner table.Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Sep. 2024
Noun
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While there have already been glimpses of this in the past with former TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace and Joe Hendry, there's no doubt fans will see more of this, especially heading into the Royal Rumble.David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Jan. 2025
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Ben Davies is in contention to return for Tottenham Hotspur’s trip to Everton on Sunday, but Brennan Johnson and Yves Bissouma are injury doubts.Jay Harris, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Jasmine moans with pleasure as Gino traces her legs with his tongue.Abigail Adams, People.com, 22 Dec. 2024
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Many of the patients were critically ill and moaning in pain from broken bones, head gashes and other injuries blamed on Tropical Storm Helene.Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
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City officials did not say what set off the dispute.Deon J. Hampton, NBC News, 17 Jan. 2025
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Campbell, who sat out the previous installment due to a salary dispute, is on board for the new feature to focus on her character, Sidney Prescott, and her daughter.Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Jan. 2025
Articles Related to cavil
Thesaurus Entries Near cavil
Cite this Entry
“Cavil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cavil. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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