CARPING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does carping mean? 

• CARPING (noun)
  The noun CARPING has 1 sense:

1. persistent petty and unjustified criticism

  Familiarity information: CARPING used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CARPING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Persistent petty and unjustified criticism

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

carping; faultfinding

Hypernyms ("carping" is a kind of...):

criticism; unfavorable judgment (disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings)

 Context examples 

After a hearty meal and a dip in the trough to wash the dust from them, they strolled forth into the bailey, where the bowman peered about through the darkness at wall and at keep, with the carping eyes of one who has seen something of sieges, and is not likely to be satisfied.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I mean the timorous or carping few who doubt the tendency of such books as Jane Eyre: in whose eyes whatever is unusual is wrong; whose ears detect in each protest against bigotry—that parent of crime—an insult to piety, that regent of God on earth.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)