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caviling

/kav-uhl/US // ˈkæv əl //UK // (ˈkævɪl) //

凹凸不平,穴居,龋齿,空洞

Related Words

Definitions

v.无主动词 verb
  1. 1

    cav·iled, cav·il·ing or cav·illed, cav·il·ling.

    • : to raise irritating and trivial objections; find fault with unnecessarily: He finds something to cavil at in everything I say.
v.有主动词 verb
  1. 1

    cav·iled, cav·il·ing or cav·illed, cav·il·ling.

    • : to oppose by inconsequential, frivolous, or sham objections: to cavil each item of a proposed agenda.
n.名词 noun
  1. 1
    • : a trivial and annoying objection.
    • : the raising of such objections.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Examples

  • It would be foolish to cavil about living in any city, with its many pleasures and diversions, he says.

  • There is no hesitation, cavil, or debate in the acceptance of it as a duty.

  • I should n't want to have it go abroad that we had not acted formally, if there was any one disposed to cavil.

  • Of this he complains, with some cause, as it afterwards occasioned numbers of unsanctified critics to laugh and cavil at him.

  • Some discontented Frerons or Arnauds, might cavil against it: but this was rebellion, not controversy.

  • This appeared to be a contradiction in terms, but public apathy accepted it without cavil.