Captious Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
๐ค
captious
[หkรฆpสษs ]
Definitions
critical
Tending to find fault or raise petty objections. Captious individuals often nitpick and criticize without reason.
Synonyms
critical, fault-finding, hypercritical.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| captious |
Used to describe someone who raises petty objections or is difficult to please. Often used in a negative connotation.
|
| critical |
Used to describe a person who evaluates or judges something, often indicating an essential examination or disapproving analysis.
|
| fault-finding |
Used to describe someone who is always looking for and pointing out faults, usually in a petty or annoying way. This has a negative connotation.
|
| hypercritical |
Used to describe someone who is excessively or unreasonably critical of others. Often indicates an unrealistic standard or harsh judgment.
|
Examples of usage
- He was known for his captious attitude towards his colleagues.
- She always had a captious remark to make about everyone's work.
- The captious customer complained about every little detail.
legal
Intended to entrap or confuse, especially in argument. Captious questions are designed to catch someone in a mistake or inconsistency.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| captious |
Used to describe someone who often finds faults or raises objections, usually in a petty way.
|
| tricky |
Often used to describe something that is difficult, complex, or deceptive. It can also be used to describe a person who is cunning and deceitful.
|
| caviling |
Typically used when someone is making petty or unnecessary objections, often over trivial matters.
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| cavillous |
Similar to 'caviling,' this word is used to describe someone who habitually raises trivial and frivolous objections.
|
Examples of usage
- The lawyer posed captious questions to the witness in an attempt to undermine their testimony.
- The captious argument was meant to trip up the defendant.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Psychology
- Captious individuals often have a critical perspective, which may stem from high standards or insecurities.
- Being captious can affect relationships, as it may create a perception of negativity or frequent dissatisfaction.
- Psychological studies suggest that overly critical behavior can be a protection mechanism against personal flaws.
Literature
- Captious characters often appear in literature as antagonists, representing nagging doubts or societal critiques.
- Famous authors like Jane Austen depicted captious characters to explore themes of social critique and personal ethics.
- Shakespeareโs plays often included captious figures to add humor or tension to the narratives.
Pop Culture
- In modern media, captious personalities are often highlighted in reality TV shows, showcasing constant bickering and conflict.
- Social media influencers sometimes display captious behaviors to engage audiences through controversy and debate.
- Various memes depict captious individuals as nitpickers, emphasizing how this personality type can draw attention online.
Philosophy
- Philosophers often discuss the idea of captiousness in relation to skepticism and the search for truth.
- Debate formats sometimes reveal captious tendencies when participants focus on finding flaws rather than fostering constructive dialogue.
- The interplay between captiousness and open-mindedness is a common topic in ethical theory discussions.
Origin of 'captious'
Main points about word origin
- The term 'captious' comes from the Latin word 'captiosus', meaning 'deceptive or tricky'.
- Originally used in the late 16th century, it referred to someone who was deliberately trying to confuse or mislead.
- The word is related to 'capture', highlighting how a captious person may 'capture' your mistakes.
The word 'captious' originated from the Latin word 'captiosus', which means 'fallacious' or 'quibbling'. It entered the English language in the late 16th century. Over time, 'captious' has come to denote someone who is overly critical or eager to raise objections, often without good reason. The term is commonly used in legal contexts to describe arguments or questions that are designed to trap or confuse.