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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People tend to get involved once a problem becomes visible – when a price looks wrong, a transaction is flagged or a customer complains.—
Murugan Anandarajan,
The Conversation,
22 Jan. 2026 -
In any work setting, there’s a person who sits around the table and complains about what’s wrong with the company, and then, when the boss walks in, that same person is over there pouring coffee, quiet as a church mouse.—
Willie Colon,
New York Times,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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His quarrels with Massie and interest in relitigating the 2020 election seem to animate him more, too.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
-
This is the style that Newsom has employed on broadcasts with figures like Kirk and in public quarrels with Joe Rogan.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The vote came after some supervisors issued sharp criticisms of County Executive David Crowley's administration for allowing the lapse to occur.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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And the makers of the show heard those criticisms and responded by…fixing the problem?—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Shannon moans right about the time Jenn walks out to see what the commotion is all about.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Supreme Court, over the objections of the three liberal justices, allowed Texas to use the map while the litigation continues.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
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But once the request for qualification statements was posted, some of those providers raised strenuous objections.—
Suzanne King,
Kansas City Star,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
Noun
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There’s something comforting about returning to the films that made the genre so beloved in the first place, where misunderstandings feel harmless and happy endings are practically guaranteed.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2026
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Legal experts also note that following instructions promptly, keeping hands visible, and avoiding sudden movements can help prevent misunderstandings during a tense situation.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Discovery squabbles Now, attorneys in the ET Gathering and Processing lawsuit are squabbling over the pace of the production of records in the discovery phase.—
Paul Monies,
Oklahoma Watch,
3 Feb. 2026
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At 75 years old, NATO has survived storms before, from squabbles over trade to estrangement over wars in Vietnam and Iraq.—
Doyle McManus,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Cavils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cavils. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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