captious
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.cap·tious
adjective \ˈkap-shəs\Definition of CAPTIOUS
1
: marked by an often ill-natured inclination to stress faults and raise objections <captious critics>
2
: calculated to confuse, entrap, or entangle in argument <a captious question>
— cap·tious·ly adverb
— cap·tious·ness noun
See Examples of CAPTIOUS
- <a captious and cranky eater who's never met a vegetable he didn't hate>
Origin 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 — more at heave
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to CAPTIOUS
- Synonyms
- critical, carping, caviling (or cavilling), faultfinding, hypercritical, judgmental, overcritical, rejective
- Antonyms
- uncritical
See Synonym Discussion at critical
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