quibble

American  

[kwib-uhl] / ˈkwɪb əl /

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.

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verb (used without object)

quibbled, quibbling

1. to equivocate.

2. to carp; cavil.

quibble British  

/ ˈkwɪbəl /

verb

1. to make trivial objections; prevaricate

2. archaic to play on words; pun

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noun

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

2. archaic a pun

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of quibble

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

Example Sentences

I quibble with that—because the code is open-source, it doesn’t matter who was behind it, any more than it matters who minted the first gold coin.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026

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.

From Salon • Oct. 24, 2025

"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.

From BBC • Oct. 9, 2025

I’m a Canadian who read this and have a specific, particular, and unnecessary quibble with your explainer.

From Slate • Jan. 7, 2025

The fact that the Japanese had attacked Hawaii rather than invaded the continental United States was a distinction that neither of us bothered to quibble over.

From "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson

Related Words

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