cavil

Meanings

Plural: cavils

Noun

an evasion of the point of an argument by raising irrelevant distinctions or objections
A petty or trivial objection or criticism.

Verb

raise trivial objections
To criticise for petty or frivolous reasons.

Origin / Etymology

From Old French caviller (“mock, jest, rail”), from Latin cavillor (“jeer, mock, satirise, reason captiously”), from cavilla (“jeering, raillery, scoffing”); cognate with Italian cavillare, Portuguese cavillar, and Spanish cavilar; nominal usage developed within English from the original verbal usage.

Synonyms

be hypercritical, carp, chicane, nitpick, pettifog, quibble, quiddity, split hairs

Scrabble Score: 10

cavil is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
cavil is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
cavil is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 13

cavil is a valid Words With Friends word