c-a-v-i-l
CAVIL means to raise trivial objections or find fault unnecessarily. With both C and V worth high points, it scores 10 points in Scrabble!
10
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
CAVIL means to make petty or unnecessary objections, to find fault without good reason. As a noun, it refers to a trivial objection or criticism. It's often used to describe someone who complains about minor details while ignoring the main point.
CAVIL comes from Latin "cavillari," meaning "to jest, mock, or quibble," from "cavilla" (jesting, scoffing). The word entered Middle English through Old French "caviller" in the 1540s, originally meaning to raise frivolous objections.
Shakespeare
"Caviling critics"
Academic writing
"Without cavil"
Book reviews
"Cavils aside..."
Contract disputes
Caviling over terms
Court proceedings
"Beyond cavil" = undisputable
Legal briefs
Caviling objections
•CAVIL is related to "caviler" - someone who constantly finds fault with everything!
•The C (3pts) and V (4pts) in CAVIL make it worth 10 points - solid for a 5-letter word!
•"Without cavil" is a legal phrase meaning "without any objection whatsoever"
"CAVIL is my secret weapon - nobody expects this old-fashioned word!"
"The V in CAVIL is gold - 4 points in a common position!"
Similar length and difficulty words
Total base points: 10 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 2 | Consonants: 3
CAVIL uses the valuable V (4pts) efficiently in a short word. Its literary nature means opponents rarely challenge it.
V Placement Strategy
The V (4pts) is your money tile. Place it on double or triple letter scores for 8-12 points!
C + V Combo
With both C (3pts) and V (4pts), CAVIL packs 7 high-value points in just 5 letters.
Extension Plays
CAVIL → CAVILS, CAVILED/CAVILLED, CAVILER, CAVILING. Multiple valid extensions!
CAVIL has one valid anagram in Scrabble:
CLAVI
Plural of CLAVUS (a corn on the foot)
10 points
Shorter words from CAVIL letters:
Note: VIAL and VAIL are excellent 4-letter plays using the high-value V!
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like CAVIL