captious
/ˈkæpʃəs/
Group 25Difficulty 3/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Tending to find fault or raise petty objections GRE
Example in Context
The captious critic seemed determined to find something wrong with every aspect of the performance, no matter how minor.
Synonyms
fault-findingcriticalnitpicky
Etymology
Full of seizing on small faults; overly critical.
- capt- (Latin) — to seize
- -ious (Latin) — full of
Memory Aid
👮Sounds like “capture us”
Imagine a police officer who is so 'CAPTIOUS' that he tries to 'CAPTURE' everyone for the tiniest of infractions!
Visual Association
🔍A hawk-eyed inspector scrutinizing a perfectly clean room for the smallest dust speck.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “captious” mean on the GRE?
captious (adjective) means “Tending to find fault or raise petty objections”. The captious critic seemed determined to find something wrong with every aspect of the performance, no matter how minor.
How to remember “captious” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “captious” sounds like “capture us”. Imagine a police officer who is so 'CAPTIOUS' that he tries to 'CAPTURE' everyone for the tiniest of infractions!
What are synonyms for “captious”?
Common synonyms: fault-finding, critical, nitpicky.