carp 1 of 2

noun

Definition of carpnext
as in whine
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment the usual carp about that restaurant is that the service is slow

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carp

2 of 2

verb

ˈkärp How to pronounce carp (audio)
1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely someone who carps and whines about everything is a pain

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2
as in to cavil
to make often peevish criticisms or objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant carped about the order of names on the wedding invitations

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of carp
Noun
In carp production, Platon said, the production cycle is three or four years. — ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026 An invasive carp invasion could imperil the Great Lakes’ $7 billion annual fishery and disrupt the region’s boating, beach and tourism economies. — Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
Should the pattern hold true throughout the long march to the Super Bowl, nobody’s going to be carping about the official headcount. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 19 Sep. 2025 Those carping about the vibes are not going to convince the vibes proponents to back down. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for carp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for carp
  1. whine
  2. complain
  3. cavil
  4. fuss
  5. scream
  6. moan
  7. complaint
  8. nitpick
Noun
  • The mystic whine of Christine Ott and Mathieu Gabry’s score carries us into a hidden world of ancient Thai deities living inside the mountain’s caves and tunnels.
    — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, turbo noise fills the cabin alongside the odd electric motor whine.
    — Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of whine
Verb
  • Journalists have complained that the lucrative and high-profile show is not subject to The Atlantic’s editorial rules, input, or oversight — yet a casual listener could easily take it for an Atlantic editorial product.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Kelker-Kelly reportedly had complained of chest pain shortly before becoming unresponsive, and the circumstances appeared consistent with a medical event, police said.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of complain
Verb
  • However, the actual interiors of this four-bedroom home are nothing to cavil at.
    — Kelly Corbett, House Beautiful, 7 Oct. 2020
Definition of cavil
Noun
  • There’s something classic about a plate of buffalo wings in front of a TV playing football, and this gets you there without any fuss.
    — Danielle Bouchard, Martha Stewart, 26 Sep. 2026
  • For all the fuss the Edmonton Oilers have generated this offseason, the club will enter the 2026-27 season with a largely unchanged roster.
    — Janson Duench, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of fuss
Verb
  • Set the scene The Homestead screams quirky, artful, and vintage yet restored—capturing a whimsical, fairytale ambiance embellished with hints of Southern charm.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In reviewing the body camera footage, police found that the child was standing on the stairwell at one point and was screaming while holding her left arm up in the air, according to the warrant affidavit.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of scream
Verb
  • At the same time, Plog placed a phone call to a relative and can be heard moaning and screaming in pain.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Sam makes a production out of teasing them, mock-reaching for various items on the set as the whole group moans and wails in distress.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of moan
Noun
  • But their complaints come as Lecornu's government seeks to rein in public spending to appease skittish bond markets, which have punished France more harshly than many of its peers this year, amid a global bond market rout.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • In a criminal complaint, prosecutors accused Zhang of spying on a son of Taiwan’s president outside his residence in the Seattle area at the behest of Chinese officials.
    — David Douglas, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of complaint
Verb
  • But on a night where there was little to nitpick, the Trojans weren’t exactly efficient on the ground.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • This can lead to nitpicking as opposed to harnessing important details that can lead to practical solutions.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of nitpick

Browse Nearby Words

carousing
carp
carp (at)
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Cite this Entry

“Carp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/carp. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on carp

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about carp

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