to raise irritating and trivial objections; find fault with unnecessarily (usually fol. by at or about )

He finds something to cavil at in everything I say.

to oppose by inconsequential, frivolous, or sham objections

to cavil each item of a proposed agenda.

a trivial and annoying objection.

the raising of such objections.

verb

find fault , criticize , carp , niggle , nitpick , pettifog , belittle , bicker , criticism (speciousor frivolous) , criticize.--n. objection , exception , haggle , objection , quibble