quibble
Americannoun
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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
-
the general use of such arguments.
-
petty or carping criticism; a minor objection.
verb (used without object)
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to equivocate.
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to carp; cavil.
verb
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to make trivial objections; prevaricate
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archaic to play on words; pun
noun
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a trivial objection or equivocation, esp one used to avoid an issue
-
archaic a pun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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quibblesimple
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quibblessimple
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have quibbledperfect
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has quibbledperfect
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am quibblingprogressive
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are quibblingprogressive
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is quibblingprogressive
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have been quibblingperfect progressive
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has been quibblingperfect progressive
Past
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quibbledsimple
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had quibbledperfect
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was quibblingprogressive
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were quibblingprogressive
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had been quibblingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of quibble
1605–15; perhaps derivative ( cf. -le) of quib gibe, apparently akin to quip
Explanation
A quibble is a small argument or fight. As a verb, it means to pick a mini-fight over something that doesn't really matter. "Let's not quibble over price," people will say, usually when they plan to gouge you. It's better to watch figure skating with the sound off, rather than listening to the announcers quibble over a not-fully-rotated knee or the slightly diminished altitude of a jump. Sometimes a quibble between neighbors over two feet of property can escalate into a major feud.
Vocabulary lists containing quibble
Fahrenheit 451
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List 7
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This Week in Words: October 28 - November 2, 2018
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The band, expanded to include touring keyboardist Loren Gold, seemed exhilarated, if a little stiff at times, a first-night quibble that will surely self-correct.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
Anyone can quibble about numbers and calculations around the edges.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026
But the Surge’s bylaws are clear that no nit be left unpicked, and so we have to quibble with his framing.
From Slate • Jan. 17, 2026
As dispassionate buyers who paid cash and didn’t quibble over ugly paint or dingy carpet, they beat out regular buyers without having to outbid them.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 10, 2026
A quibble arose concerning the phrase “break out.”
From "The Call of the Wild" by Jack London
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
