cavil
UK: ˈkæv.ɪl | US: ˈkæv.əl
v. to make petty or unnecessary objections
n. a trivial objection or criticism
cavil = cav<to jest, scoff> + il<verb-forming suffix>
- cav (from Latin cavillari, meaning "to jest, scoff, or quibble")
- il (a verb-forming suffix, often indicating action or process)
Etymology Origin:
The word "cavil" traces back to the Latin cavillari, meaning "to jest or quibble." Over time, it evolved in Middle French as caviller, retaining the sense of making trivial objections. By the 16th century, English adopted it with a sharper focus on nitpicking criticism. The morpheme cav preserves the core idea of mocking or trivializing, while il turns it into an actionable verb.
She tends to cavil about minor details instead of addressing the main issue.
His constant caviling made the meeting unproductive.
Don’t cavil over small errors; focus on the bigger picture.
The reviewer’s cavil about the font size seemed overly pedantic.
Politicians often cavil at their opponents’ proposals without offering solutions.