as in complains
to make often peevish criticisms or objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant
caviled for hours about a single sentence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cavils
Verb
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Roman complains about pain in his feet, and Dennis offers him a foot massage.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025 -
Next morning at breakfast Amby complains grandly of his soreness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The forward will miss the first half of the Sky’s game on Sunday against the Las Vegas Aces after her criticisms were published earlier this week by the Chicago Tribune.—
Thomas Schlachter,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
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Mourinho’s arrival at United was a response to some of the criticisms directed at his predecessor, Louis van Gaal.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The landowners' objections do not bar TVA's authorization to access the properties pursuant to the court’s orders, nor does authorization hinge on further activity in the lawsuits.—
Brie Stimson , Larry Fink,
FOXNews.com,
5 Sep. 2025
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All states allow medical vaccine exemptions and most states already have exemption policies in place for people with strong religious objections, in an effort to balance the need for public health with the ideal of individual freedom of choice.—
Youri Benadjaoud,
ABC News,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But Brian constantly nitpicks her purchases.—
Kamaron McNair,
CNBC,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The more gaps there are in communication, the more room there is for assumptions, misunderstandings and insecurity to grow.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Usually there’s some history of misunderstandings, hurt feelings or real transgressions.—
Ingrid Schmidt,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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His career is an interesting case study, raising questions about how well universities can monitor professors' research output and manage the interdepartmental squabbles that can sprout up on campuses.—
Kelly Meyerhofer,
jsonline.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
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McConaughey may have had doubts at first, but Greengrass felt the actor was the only big star who could believably play a man hustling to stay afloat and keep his family together.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
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Former Defense officials also had their doubts.—
Emily Goodin,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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International investment treaty disputes are arbitrated under a third-party institution that employs attorneys who specialize in international law and have no particular ties to either party.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
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The California Governor’s Office disputes Kominski’s characterization of contractor donations as a vector for political influence.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Cavils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cavils. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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