quibble

[ kwib-uhl ]

/ ˈkwɪb əl /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR quibble ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

the general use of such arguments.

petty or carping criticism; a minor objection.

verb (used without object), quib·bled, quib·bling.

to equivocate.

to carp; cavil.

Words nearby quibble

quezon y molina, qui nhon, qui nhong, qui transtulit sustinet, qui vive, quibble, quibbling, quibdó, quiberon, quiche, quiche lorraine

Origin of quibble

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

SYNONYMS FOR quibble

1 evasion, equivocation, sophism, shift, ambiguity.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR quibble ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM quibble

quib·bler, nounout·quib·ble, verb (used with object), out·quib·bled, out·quib·bling.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for quibble

A weird thing to quibble about, considering he is a moon landing denier.
Dear Moon Landing Deniers: Sorry I Called You Moon Landing Deniers|Olivia Nuzzi|July 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There are several other things in the Wiki vs. doctors article to quibble about, which the authors generously note.
How Wikipedia Is Like Your Doctor|Kent Sepkowitz|May 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This quibble aside, “Breakfast with Mugabe” offers food for thought.
Searching Hard for Mugabe’s Conscience|James Kirchick|January 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You can quibble about beginnings, middles and ends but what we're talking about is over a year ago.
Anthony Weiner Is Probably Sexting Right Now|Michael Tomasky|July 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST

You can quibble with the “vast” part, I guess, depending on how you define that word.
One’s a Weiner, the Other a Hero: Why Bill and Hillary Have Nothing in Common With Anthony and Huma|Michael Tomasky|July 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
A quibble is intended between as the conditional particle, and ass the beast of burthen.
Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III: The Tragedies|Samuel Johnson
So the Cobbler's answer does not give the information required, though it contains a quibble.
The New Hudson Shakespeare: Julius Caesar|William Shakespeare
This quibble had the desired effect, and the distressed couple were restored to favor.
The Jest Book|Mark Lemon
He had worded his sentence unfortunately, for the master took it as a quibble.
Deering of Deal|Latta Griswold
"Don't make him quibble any more than he has to," said Burton, with mock severity.
A Romance in Transit|Francis Lynde

British Dictionary definitions for quibble

quibble

/ (ˈkwɪbəl) /

verb (intr)

to make trivial objections; prevaricate

archaic to play on words; pun

noun

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

archaic a pun

Derived forms of quibble

quibbler, nounquibbling, adjective, nounquibblingly, adverb

Word Origin for quibble

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012