Captious is an adjective that describes a person who is excessively critical, fault-finding, or inclined to raise objections and find flaws in something. Here are synonyms and an antonym for “captious”:
Synonyms:
- Critical – This term implies a tendency to analyze and evaluate things, often with a focus on finding faults or shortcomings.
- Hypercritical – This word suggests being overly critical or excessively concerned with minor flaws.
- Faultfinding – It directly relates to the act of constantly seeking and pointing out faults or defects.
- Censorious – This term describes someone who is harshly critical and quick to judge or condemn.
Antonym:
- Approving – An antonym for captious would be someone who is supportive, accepting, and inclined to offer praise rather than criticism. In this context, “approving” signifies a positive and accepting attitude rather than a critical one.
It’s important to note that while being captious or critical can sometimes be constructive when offering feedback or making improvements, an overly captious or hypercritical attitude can hinder collaboration and creativity, as it tends to focus excessively on the negative aspects of a situation or idea.