cavil

American  

[kav-uhl] / ˈkæv əl /

verb (used without object)

caviled, caviling, cavilled, cavilling

1. to raise irritating and trivial objections; find fault with unnecessarily (usually followed by at orabout ).

   He finds something to cavil at in everything I say.

   Synonyms:

   criticize, complain, carp

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verb (used with object)

caviled, caviling, cavilled, cavilling

1. to oppose by inconsequential, frivolous, or sham objections.

   to cavil each item of a proposed agenda.

noun

1. a trivial and annoying objection.

2. the raising of such objections.

cavil British  

/ ˈkævɪl /

verb

1. (intr; foll by at or about) to raise annoying petty objections; quibble; carp

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noun

1. a captious trifling objection

Other Word Forms

• caviler noun
• cavilingly adverb
• caviller noun
• cavilling adjective
• outcavil verb (used with object)
• uncaviling adjective
• uncavilling adjective

Etymology

Origin of cavil

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin cavillārī “to jeer, scoff, quibble,” derivative of cavilla “jesting, banter,” perhaps derivative of cav(us) “hollow”; cave ( def. )

Explanation

If your only cavil to your family's trip to Disney World is that you don't like airline food, you're not representing the anti-Mickey side of the argument very well. A cavil is a small or petty objection. Cavil is not a word that comes up all that often. You can replace it with the more commonly used word quibble and still have the same meaning. If you cavil over a restaurant bill, you argue about the minute, unimportant details of who owes what — like whether your portion of the bill is $10.00 or $10.17.

Example Sentences

The organization’s main cavil — that the measure will have inordinate impact on small medical practices — is largely a smokescreen.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 16, 2020

This cavil has no bearing on the outcome of the case.

From Slate • Feb. 20, 2019

They talk a lot about how something must be done about inequality and the need to address social unrest, but cavil at the idea they might be a big part of the problem.

From The Guardian • Feb. 1, 2019

I wished the corn had been grilled rather than boiled, but that’s a cavil since I consumed two of three ears.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 30, 2018

The committee awarded Livingston his doctorate without cavil.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik