Cavil — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈka-vəl/ cav·il

Meaning & Definition of Cavil

Cavil (verb)

  1. to raise trivial and frivolous objection
  2. to raise trivial objections to

Cavil (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make often peevish criticisms or objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant

    "caviled for hours about a single sentence"

    similar: carp, fuss, niggle, nitpick, quibble, split hairs
    related: criticize, fault, beef, bellyache, bitch, complain, crab, croak, gripe, grouse, growl, grumble, kick, kvetch, moan, squawk, squeal, wail, whimper, whine, yammer, yawp, yowl, murmur, mutter
    near: applaud, commend, compliment, praise, recommend, approve, back, champion, endorse, support

Cavil (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in quibble, niggle

    similar: niggle (chiefly British), quibble, misunderstanding, argument, conflict, debate, dispute, dissent, hassle, quarrel, squabble, static, compunction, doubt, misgiving, qualm, scruple, censure, criticism, challenge, complaint, demur, demurral, demurrer, difficulty, exception, expostulation, fuss, kick, objection, protest, question, remonstrance, stink, defiance, disobedience, rebellion, distrust, distrustfulness, dubiety, dubitation (archaic), incertitude, indetermination, misdoubt, mistrust, mistrustfulness, reservation, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainty, qualmishness, unease, uneasiness, reluctance, unwillingness
    opposite: willingness, approval, sanction, acceptance, acquiescence, agreement, assent, compliance, obedience

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Cavil

The most common words with a similar meaning to Cavil:

Chiefly British: niggle
Archaic: dubitation
carp, fuss, nitpick, quibble, split hairs, misunderstanding, argument, conflict, debate, dispute, dissent, hassle, quarrel, squabble, static, compunction, doubt, misgiving, qualm, scruple, censure, criticism, challenge, complaint, demur, demurral, demurrer, difficulty, exception, expostulation, kick, objection, protest, question, remonstrance, stink, defiance, disobedience, rebellion, distrust

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Cavil

Words with the opposite meaning of Cavil:

willingness, approval, sanction, acceptance, acquiescence, agreement, assent, compliance, obedience

Related Words for Cavil

criticize, fault, beef, bellyache, bitch, complain, crab, croak, gripe, grouse, growl, grumble, kvetch, moan, squawk, squeal, wail, whimper, whine, yammer, yawp, yowl, murmur, mutter

Near Antonyms of Cavil

applaud, commend, compliment, praise, recommend, approve, back, champion, endorse, support

Word Forms of Cavil

Inflections: caviled, cavilled, caviling, cavilling

Derived words: cavil (noun), caviler (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Cavil

Latin cavillari to jest, cavil, from cavilla raillery; akin to Latin calvi to deceive calumny

First known use: 1542i

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Cavil

Words & Phrases Containing Cavil

beyond cavil

Frequently Asked Questions about Cavil

What does "Cavil" mean?

"Cavil" means to raise trivial and frivolous objection. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to raise trivial and frivolous objection. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Cavil"?

Other words for "Cavil" include carp, fuss, niggle, nitpick, quibble, split hairs, misunderstanding and argument. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Cavil" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Cavil"?

There are 82 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Cavil". Common alternatives include carp, fuss, niggle, nitpick, quibble, split hairs, misunderstanding, argument, conflict and debate.

What is the opposite of "Cavil"?

Antonyms of "Cavil" include willingness, approval, sanction, acceptance, acquiescence, agreement, assent and compliance. Near antonyms include applaud, commend, compliment and praise.

How do you use "Cavil" in a sentence?

Examples of "Cavil" in a sentence: "caviled for hours about a single sentence".

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

"Cavil" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

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

As a C2-level word, "Cavil" 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 "Cavil"?

"Cavil" is pronounced /ˈka-vəl/ and divided into syllables as cav·il.