as in critical
given to making or expressing unfavorable judgments about things
a captious and cranky eater who's never met a vegetable he didn't hate
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Recent Examples of captious
So much of the new sobriety flex is anathema to the captious alcoholics of 12-step groups.
—
Virginia Heffernan, Wired, 19 Apr. 2022
That a right-wing party traditionally captious about American patriotism did not react heatedly to evidence of Russian interference in US elections is bizarre.
—Darryl Pinckney, The New York Review of Books, 5 Nov. 2020
Berryman was a captious and self-heating complainer, slow to cool.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2020
Virginia Heffernan, Wired, 19 Apr. 2022
That a right-wing party traditionally captious about American patriotism did not react heatedly to evidence of Russian interference in US elections is bizarre.
—Darryl Pinckney, The New York Review of Books, 5 Nov. 2020
Berryman was a captious and self-heating complainer, slow to cool.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captious
Adjective
-
In Canada, those minerals sit in the same rock formations where miners already dig for copper, nickel, and diamonds, or explore for critical green transition metals like lithium and cobalt.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
18 May 2026
-
Global energy demand is projected to rise more than 50% by 2040, driven by economic growth in Asia and power-hungry AI infrastructure — and LNG, which is a cleaner fuel than coal or oil, is seen as a critical source to help meet that demand.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Emond, as Suzanna’s hypercritical mother, puts an Olympic-level spin on her withering observations.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
16 Apr. 2026
-
After learning the risks and dangers of the Colorado Rockies’ backcountry from a loving but complicated mother, Zach Fisher, a sensitive 12-year-old, joins Bram, his hypercritical father, on a father/son ski trip.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
There is frustration that Harry’s comments came across as judgmental toward relatives with bigger families, and rather brutal.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
11 May 2026
-
Say everyone had a best friend who was always available, never judgmental, totally on the same page about everything and needed nothing in return.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Captious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captious. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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