Understanding the Meaning of Captious

The question asks us to find the word nearest in meaning to the underlined word "captious" in the sentence "He is always captious." To answer this, we need to understand what "captious" means.

The word captious is an adjective used to describe someone who is excessively critical, difficult to please, and finds fault readily, often over minor matters. They are quick to object or argue about insignificant things.

Analyzing the Options

Let's look at the meanings of the given options:

• Worried: Feeling or showing anxiety about actual or potential problems. This is related to concern or unease.
• Passionate: Having or expressing strong emotions or beliefs. This relates to intense feelings or enthusiasm.
• Faultfinding: Inclined to find fault or criticize, especially in a petty or carping way. This describes someone who is critical and points out flaws.
• Jovial: Cheerful and friendly. This describes a happy and good-humored person.

Identifying the Nearest Meaning

Comparing the meaning of captious with the options:

• "Worried" is about anxiety, not criticism.
• "Passionate" is about strong emotion or enthusiasm, not criticism.
• "Faultfinding" directly describes someone who is inclined to find fault and criticize, which aligns perfectly with the meaning of captious.
• "Jovial" is the opposite of being critical or finding fault; it means cheerful and friendly.

Therefore, the word nearest in meaning to captious is "faultfinding".

Conclusion

Based on the analysis of the word meanings, "faultfinding" is the closest synonym for "captious". Someone described as captious is typically someone who is constantly looking for faults or flaws in others or in situations.