carping

American  

[kahr-ping] / ˈkɑr pɪŋ /

adjective

1. characterized by fussy or petulant faultfinding; querulous.

   carping criticism.

---

noun

1. petty faultfinding.

ˈcarping British  

/ ˈkɑːpɪŋ /

adjective

1. tending to make petty complaints; fault-finding

---

Other Word Forms

• carpingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of carping

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

Example Sentences

The cases come several years after former President Trump tested the issue, having used his @RealDonaldTrump account to conduct presidential business while blocking some of his carping critics.

From Washington Times

Whether the mark is worth hitting is another matter; a comic duet that pits aging, carping viragos against each other in the manner of “Bosom Buddies” from “Mame” is not perhaps a feminist anthem.

From New York Times

Standing up for D.C.’s democratic autonomy against carping Republicans in Congress would have been the right thing to do, and most House Democrats voted against rescinding the code.

From Washington Post

For some reason, mask mandates have been the target of more overheated carping by right-wingers about anti-COVID measures than almost anything else, vaccines aside.

From Los Angeles Times

The Big Three have also been criticized on the left, where they are said to be shirking their ESG responsibilities, cowardly avoiding standing up for what they believe in because of carping from the right.

From Washington Post