quibble
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.
to equivocate.
to carp; cavil.
Origin of quibble
1Other words for quibble
Other words from quibble
- quibbler, noun
- outquibble, verb (used with object), out·quib·bled, out·quib·bling.
Words Nearby quibble
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use quibble in a sentence
Even with minor quibbles like the lack of an SD card slot and having to buy one or two necessary accessories, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is the most well-rounded flagship Android phone, making it the best choice for most people.
The best Android phones from affordable to flagship | Brendan Hesse | November 4, 2021 | Popular-ScienceForget any semantic quibbles over the meaning of the term “insurrection.”
The new GOP rage-fest at Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger contains a big tell | Greg Sargent | September 2, 2021 | Washington PostLabor historian Nelson Lichtenstein says Big Tech has a tendency to lean on its transformational image to paper over any labor complaints and minimize them as quibbles that are impeding the evolution of the world.
Tech’s new labor movement is harnessing lessons learned a century ago | Sarah Jaffe | June 30, 2021 | MIT Technology ReviewMichael Dobbs makes a splendid case that Nixon was “an American tragedy,” though I have a quibble.
While it does take a few jujitsu-like maneuvers to fold the rear seats completely flat, this is a minor 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 | THE DAILY BEASTThere are several other things in the Wiki vs. doctors article to quibble about, which the authors generously note.
This quibble aside, “Breakfast with Mugabe” offers food for thought.
You can quibble about beginnings, middles and ends but what we're talking about is over a year ago.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTBecause of a quibble on his part this loathsome thing would ruin his future, dash his hopes to the ground, blacken his life.
The Everlasting Arms | Joseph HockingHe saw that the reason which he had given for disbelief was untenable, and he was too straightforward to quibble about it.
The Middy and the Moors | R.M. BallantyneHe had hoped for a vigorous denial on Thorpe's part, but this halfway confession seemed to him a mere quibble.
The Come Back | Carolyn WellsThat's a mere quibble, Miss Bridgeman: the association is just the same, and she ought to feel it.
Mount Royal, Volume 3 of 3 | Mary Elizabeth BraddonProfessor Holcomb was a man of terse, heavy thinking; he spoke what he thought and he did not quibble.
The Blind Spot | Austin Hall
British Dictionary definitions for quibble
/ (ˈkwɪbəl) /
to make trivial objections; prevaricate
archaic to play on words; pun
a trivial objection or equivocation, esp one used to avoid an issue
archaic a pun
Origin of quibble
1Derived forms of quibble
- quibbler, noun
- quibbling, adjective, noun
- quibblingly, adverb
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
Browse