verb
- to make petty or unnecessary objections; to quibble
noun
- a petty or unnecessary objection or complaint
Examples
- She caviled at every detail of the proposal, even though it was well-reasoned.
- Don't cavil over minor spelling errors; focus on the main argument.
- His constant cavils about the restaurant's service annoyed the other diners.
- The critic caviled at the film's pacing without acknowledging its strengths.
- I won't cavil with your decision if you've thought it through carefully.
- Their cavils about the budget were dismissed as unimportant.
- He tends to cavil rather than offer constructive suggestions.