What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
caviller
Example
He is known to be a caviller, always finding faults in other people's work. [caviller: noun]
Example
She tends to cavil about every little thing, making it difficult to work with her. [cavil: verb]
nitpick
Example
Stop nitpicking and just enjoy the movie. [nitpick: verb]
Example
She has a tendency to nitpick about grammar errors in every document. [nitpicker: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Nitpick is more commonly used than caviller in everyday language. Nitpick is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts, while caviller is less common and more formal.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between caviller and nitpick?
While caviller is more formal and less commonly used, nitpick is more informal and frequently used in everyday conversation.