captious
adjective
apt to notice and make much of trivial faults or defects; faultfinding; difficult to please.
captiousness
-
a word derived from
captious.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Hägglund examines writing by C. S. Lewis, Augustine, and Kierkegaard with a generous captiousness, fair but firmly forensic.
From The New Yorker ● May 13, 2019
There is much here of the usual captiousness to be found in the criticism of bystanders upon action, mixed with a great deal of false assertion and premature knowledge of the ways of Providence.
From The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 07 by Rossiter Johnson
I hope you are telling me the truth, because I should be sorry to believe you were beginning your new life in a spirit of captiousness and rebellion.
From Vice Versa or A Lesson to Fathers by F. Anstey
I dwell upon this point, not in any spirit of captiousness, I need scarcely say, but because it exemplifies a fairly persistent characteristic of MacDowell's style as a song writer.
From Edward MacDowell by Lawrence Gilman
Comfort is best promoted by avoiding a spirit of captiousness in traveling, not only in Spain, but upon life's entire journey.
From Due West or Round the World in Ten Months by Maturin Murray Ballou
