quibble
[ kwib-uhl ]
/ ˈkwɪb əl /
Save This Word!
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.
SYNONYMS FOR quibble
QUIZZES
THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?
Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.
Question 1 of 8
Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?
OTHER WORDS FROM quibble
quibbler, nounoutquibble, verb (used with object), out·quib·bled, out·quib·bling.Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for quibble
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, adverbWord 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