apt to notice and make much of trivial faults or defects; faultfinding; difficult to please.

proceeding from a faultfinding or caviling disposition

He could never praise without adding a captious remark.

apt or designed to ensnare or perplex, esp. in argument

captious questions.

adjective

commendatory , complimentary , encouraging , flattering , laudatory , praising

adjective

acrimonious , cantankerous , carping , caviling , cavillous , censorious , contrary , crabby , cross , demanding , deprecating , disparaging , exacting , exceptive , fault-finding , finicky , hypercritical , irritable , nagging , nit-picking , overcritical , peevish , perverse , petulant , sarcastic , severe , testy , touchy , faultfinding , capricious , crafty , critical , cynical , fretful , insidious , irascible , mean , ornery