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carping

adjective
carp·​ing | \ ˈkär-piÅ‹ How to pronounce carping (audio) \

Definition of carping

: marked by or inclined to querulous and often perverse criticism
Other Words from carping Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about carping

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Other Words from carping

carpingly \ ˈkär-​piÅ‹-​lÄ“ How to pronounce carpingly (audio) \ adverb

Choose the Right Synonym for carping

critical, hypercritical, faultfinding, captious, carping, censorious mean inclined to look for and point out faults and defects. critical may also imply an effort to see a thing clearly and truly in order to judge it fairly. a critical essay hypercritical suggests a tendency to judge by unreasonably strict standards. hypercritical disparagement of other people's work faultfinding implies a querulous or exacting temperament. a faultfinding reviewer captious suggests a readiness to detect trivial faults or raise objections on trivial grounds. a captious critic carping implies an ill-natured or perverse picking of flaws. a carping editorial censorious implies a disposition to be severely critical and condemnatory. the censorious tone of the review

Examples of carping in a Sentence

a peevish and carping old woman who is not a favorite at the nursing home

Recent Examples on the Web

 But the novel as a whole suggests that Clinton is all too well acquainted with resentment against carping critics and burdensome bureaucracies. — Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, "Bill Clinton’s Novel Isn't a Thriller—It's a Fantasy," 16 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'carping.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of carping

1567, in the meaning defined above

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More from Merriam-Webster on carping

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for carping

Nglish: Translation of carping for Spanish Speakers

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