quibble

[kwib-uhl]

noun

1. an instance of the use of ambiguous, prevaricating, or irrelevant language or arguments to evade a point at issue.

   Synonyms: ambiguity, shift, sophism, equivocation, evasion

2. the general use of such arguments.

3. petty or carping criticism; a minor objection.

verb (used without object)

quibbled, quibbling 

1. to equivocate.

2. to carp; cavil.

quibble

/ ˈkwɪbəl /

verb

1. to make trivial objections; prevaricate

2. archaic,  to play on words; pun

noun

1. a trivial objection or equivocation, esp one used to avoid an issue

2. archaic,  a pun

Other Word Forms

• quibbler noun
• outquibble verb (used with object)
• quibbling adjective
• quibblingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of quibble¹

1605–15; perhaps derivative ( -le ) of quib gibe, apparently akin to quip

Word History and Origins

Origin of quibble¹

C17: probably from obsolete quib, perhaps from Latin quibus (from quī who, which), as used in legal documents, with reference to their obscure phraseology

Example Sentences

The only quibble is the show primarily runs on weekends only.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

We can quibble over whether smoking guns tie the president personally to any corrupt act, or whether the Supreme Court was right to immunize presidents from the scrutiny applied to ordinary citizens.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But this is a minor quibble for a film that, like the “Nebraska” album itself, rightly dares to elevate the making of a solo acoustic record into high art.

Read more on Salon

"Whilst there isn't much to quibble about in the conclusions reached, notably missing is any focus on the resource issues that are a key part of the context to those delays and failures," she said.

Read more on BBC

Eliot — no stranger to feline alter egos — responded earnestly to a poetic quibble.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bicker 
• carp 
• spar 
• squabble 
• waffle 
• wrangle