cavils 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of cavil
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cavils

2 of 2

noun

plural of cavil
as in quibbles

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cavils
  1. complains
  2. quarrels
  3. moans
  4. criticisms
  5. nitpicks
  6. objections
  7. misunderstandings
  8. squabbles
Verb
  • The private sector complains that there are jobs but that Indians aren’t skilled enough to be hired.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Prescribing Tylenol to a patient who continually complains of back pain will not necessarily solve what ails them.
    — Chris Adams, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of complains
Noun
  • Candi is the family mediator Like any father-daughter coaching dynamic, Corey and Coco have had their fair share of quarrels on the tennis court.
    — Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026
  • Rounding out the top five names were seven write-in votes for the Sacramento Capitals or Capitols — which could be nicknamed the Caps to avoid quarrels over the spelling — and six votes for the Sacramento Stingers or Sting, referencing the collegiate Sacramento State Hornets.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026
Definition of quarrels
Verb
  • Musselwhite punctuated the music with his harmonica trills and moans while his right knee bounced in time with the rhythms.
    — Kevin McKeough, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2026
  • As the video continues, one person can be heard yelling her name while the makeup artist moans in pain.
    — Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 21 May 2026
Definition of moans
Noun
  • Green's win, a popular and feel-good moment for fans, is seen as a strategic move by WWE, potentially addressing criticisms aimed at Triple H regarding the promotion of new talent.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Trump’s Truth Social is launching a premium ‘Truth API’ that sells Wall Street traders split-second early access to his market-moving posts, stoking new criticisms of insider trading and self-enrichment in the Oval Office.
    — Bernard Condon, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of criticisms
Verb
  • So your first indication of problems can be a client who nitpicks every job, forcing you to return to re-trim the 2-inch patch of sod that the client claims wasn’t properly manicured.
    — Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
  • But Brian constantly nitpicks her purchases.
    — Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2025
Definition of nitpicks
Noun
  • The letter by Raskin and colleagues raises numerous objections to the concept of morphing three affordable courses used by golfers of all levels into a more expensive course designed for professionals.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • By Elisabeth Zerofsky How the late-night host won comedy’s biggest prize — despite the White House’s objections.
    — Daniel Bergner Elisabeth Zerofsky Benoit Denizet-Lewis David Marchese Charles Homans Kwame Anthony Appiah Sophie Haigney Chris Almeida Ismail Muhammad John Hodgman, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of objections
Noun
  • Getting ahead of those conversations helps prevent misunderstandings once households merge and rent is due.
    — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 29 July 2026
  • According to The Gottman Institute, talking through these expectations in advance helps couples build a stronger foundation and sidestep the misunderstandings that tend to surface a few weeks after moving in.
    — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of misunderstandings
Noun
  • Devil facial tumor disease appeared in 1996 in Tasmania’s northeast, grotesque growths on the face and mouth that the animals spread by biting one another in their squabbles over food and mates.
    — John Drake, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Parents who are expecting a new baby or dealing with sibling squabbles can all benefit from the reminder that love is not a finite resource—everyone in the family is loved immensely and equally.
    — Kara Nesvig, Parents, 27 July 2026
Definition of squabbles
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

caviling
cavils
caving
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Cite this Entry

“Cavils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cavils. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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