"Captious" Pronounce,Meaning And Examples

"Captious" Meaning

Captious refers to someone or something that is easily offended, prickly, or quick to find fault. It can also describe a criticism or remark that is overly critical and petty, often intended to provoke or annoy rather than to promote constructive discussion.

"Captious" Examples

Here are 5 usage examples of the word "captious":

Example 1

The professor was accused of being captious when grading the student's work, always finding fault with their smallest mistakes.

Example 2

The Internet debate got heated when a captious commenter started questioning the opponent's facts, rather than engaging in a constructive discussion.

Example 3

The lawyer's captious cross-examination of the witness threatened to undermine his credibility, but the judge intervened to ensure a fair trial.

Example 4

The author's captious tone in the blog post alienated many readers, who felt that he was being overly critical and petty.

Example 5

The teacher tried to remain impartial, but the student's captious behavior during class made it difficult for her to separate their work from their attitude.