carping

[kahr-ping]

adjective

1. characterized by fussy or petulant faultfinding; querulous.

   carping criticism.

noun

1. petty faultfinding.

ˈcarping

/ ˈkɑːpɪŋ /

adjective

1. tending to make petty complaints; fault-finding

Other Word Forms

• carpingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of carping¹

1275–1325; Middle English (noun); carp ¹, -ing ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

In Werde’s view, Swift’s place atop the pop hierarchy makes such carping inevitable.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

While carping about "the fake news media" during the White House Easter egg roll, Hegseth's whining got so pitched his voice started to crack, while his children stood behind him, embarrassed at the spectacle.

Read more on Salon

Believe me, I’m completely aware that I sound like a Scrooge, a buzzkill harping and carping about innocuous movies that are meant to be little more than background noise while people scroll on their phones.

Read more on Salon

He achieved far more legislatively than many thought possible, given the narrow margins Democrats held in the House and Senate, and presided over an economy that, partisan carping aside, is the envy of the world.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And who knows what Republicans are thinking about Trump's inconsistent directives about early voting or constant carping about the elections being rigged?

Read more on Salon