Captious — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈkap-shəs/ cap·tious

Meaning & Definition of Captious

Captious (adjective)

  1. marked by an often ill-natured inclination to stress faults and raise objections
  2. calculated to confuse, entrap, or entangle in argument

Captious (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. given to making or expressing unfavorable judgments about things

    "a captious and cranky eater who's never met a vegetable he didn't hate"

    similar: carping, caviling, critical, faultfinding, hypercritical, judgmental, overcritical, rejective
    related: discerning, discriminating, judicious, demanding, exacting, fastidious, finical, finicky, fussy, nitpicky, particular, picky, pettifogging, quibbling, harsh, merciless, uncharitable, unforgiving
    opposite: uncritical
    near: undiscriminating, undemanding, unfussy, charitable, forgiving

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Captious

The most common words with a similar meaning to Captious:

carping, caviling, critical, faultfinding, hypercritical, judgmental, overcritical, rejective

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Captious

Words with the opposite meaning of Captious:

uncritical

Related Words for Captious

discerning, discriminating, judicious, demanding, exacting, fastidious, finical, finicky, fussy, nitpicky, particular, picky, pettifogging, quibbling, harsh, merciless, uncharitable, unforgiving

Near Antonyms of Captious

undiscriminating, undemanding, unfussy, charitable, forgiving

Word Forms of Captious

Derived words: captiously (adverb), captiousness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Captious

Middle English capcious, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French captieux, from Latin captiosus, from captio deception, verbal quibble, from capere to take heave:1

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Captious

Frequently Asked Questions about Captious

What does "Captious" mean?

"Captious" means marked by an often ill-natured inclination to stress faults and raise objections. As an adjective, it is defined as: marked by an often ill-natured inclination to stress faults and raise objections.

What is another word for "Captious"?

Other words for "Captious" include carping, caviling, critical, faultfinding, hypercritical, judgmental, overcritical and rejective. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Captious" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Captious"?

There are 26 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Captious". Common alternatives include carping, caviling, critical, faultfinding, hypercritical, judgmental, overcritical and rejective.

What is the opposite of "Captious"?

Antonyms of "Captious" include uncritical. Near antonyms include undiscriminating, undemanding, unfussy and charitable.

How do you use "Captious" in a sentence?

Examples of "Captious" in a sentence: "a captious and cranky eater who's never met a vegetable he didn't hate".

Is "Captious" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Captious" is an adjective.

Is "Captious" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Captious" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Captious"?

"Captious" is pronounced /ˈkap-shəs/ and divided into syllables as cap·tious.