MEANING
To object over minor points in an unhelpful or unreasonable way.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- cavil at details
On the page
He caviled at every detail.
She refused to cavil over the wording.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- cavil
- Past tense
- caviled
- Past participle
- caviled
- Present participle
- caviling
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- cavil
- Present continuous
- am/is/are caviling
- Present perfect
- have/has caviled
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been caviling
- Past
- caviled
- Past continuous
- was/were caviling
- Past perfect
- had caviled
- Past perfect continuous
- had been caviling
- Future
- will cavil
- Future continuous
- will be caviling
- Future perfect
- will have caviled
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been caviling
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Explore related collections
Usage notes
Primary category: literary. Forms: cavil; cavils; caviled; caviled; caviling Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Third-person singular: cavils.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
Keep a thought for later. Sign in to save privately.