quibble
Americannoun
-
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)
-
to equivocate.
-
to carp; cavil.
verb
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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
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
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.
“Could some of them quibble that they missed more of yesterday’s rally than they would have liked? Sure, but no one ever went broke by taking a profit,” he said.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026
Many will quibble with the Georgia Senate’s income tax relief plan, and the Journal has provided helpful guidance for how the proposal could be improved as it moves through the legislative process.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 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
If the Chinese parent company don't quibble with this desire, if it comes about, it could happen without further legislation.
From BBC • Apr. 12, 2025
She pretended to quibble with a phrase or two, then looked questioningly to her mother.
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
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.
