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- pronunciation:
- kae
v
 l
- parts of speech:
- intransitive verb, transitive verb, noun
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb)
| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| inflections: |
cavils, caviling, caviled |
| definition: |
to make petty criticisms or objections; carp (usu. fol. by "at" or "about").
He tried to discuss his plans with his father in private, knowing his mother's tendency to cavil.Senators of the opposite party caviled at the plan put forward by the junior senator.- synonyms:
- carp, nitpick, pick, quibble
- similar words:
- bicker, crab, haggle, nag, niggle
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| related words: |
fuss, gripe |
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| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| definition: |
to raise petty objections to; quibble about.
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| related words: |
criticize, nag |
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| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition: |
a petty and irritating objection.
- synonyms:
- quibble
- similar words:
- beef, bellyache, bitch, gripe
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| related words: |
complaint, grievance, haggle, objection |
| derivations: |
cavilingly (adv.), caviler (n.) |
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