Meaning & use
cavil
To raise trivial or unnecessary objections about something, often just to complain or find fault.
See it in a sentence
He tends to cavil over minor details instead of addressing the report's larger problems.
Critics caviled about the film's pacing while ignoring its stronger performances.
A note on using this word
Cavil is a formal, somewhat old-fashioned word; 'nitpick' is the more common everyday equivalent.
Words with a similar meaning
nitpickquibble
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A trivial or unnecessary objection.
His cavils about the font size distracted from useful feedback on the design.
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