Standard Lemma guide

caviler

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A person who cavils; a faultfinder, quibbler or nitpicker

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 1817 John Nicholas - Illustrations of the Literary History of the Eighteenth Century a man who comments on the Bible affords all the opportunity a caviler could wish for.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a disputant who quibbles; someone who raises annoying petty objections

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: quibbler, caviller, pettifogger

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: malcontent

History

Etymology

From cavil + -er.