stickle
Americanverb (used without object)
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to argue or haggle insistently, especially on trivial matters.
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to raise objections; scruple; demur.
verb
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to dispute stubbornly, esp about minor points
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to refuse to agree or concur, esp by making petty stipulations
Etymology
Origin of stickle
1520–30; variant of obsolete stightle to set in order, frequentative of stight to set in order, Middle English stighten, Old English stihtan to arrange; cognate with German stiften, Old Norse stētta to set up
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.
See Examples For:
Meanwhile in London His Majesty's Government continued to stickle for the oath in a sharp note to the Irish Free State, so sharp that last week neither sender nor receiver would divulge the contents.
From Time Magazine Archive
Classicists from Nick's, who stickle for the traditions of the Chicago Style, nodded their heads in austere approval.
From Time Magazine Archive
I did not like to stickle, and went.
From The Life of William Ewart Gladstone, Vol. 1 (of 3) 1809-1859 by John Morley
If one could have put in any claim of kindred, even in the third or fourth degree, it would have been a case in which to stickle hard for the full privileges of relationship.
From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 59, No. 363, January, 1846 by Various
The world is wondrous fickle; But lately it would stickle For Progress by Exam.
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 100, May 30, 1891 by Various
The widow Bevis indeed stickled hard for me.
From Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 5 by Samuel Richardson
You may remember, Sam, that your poor father always stickled for a roast leg of lamb at Easter.
From Shining Ferry by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
"You may even say, My Lord," replied Athos, who stickled for propriety.
From The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas père
"One party of English soldiers stickled not to contravene these commands, being tempted with the desire of finding victuals."
From On the Spanish Main Or, Some English forays on the Isthmus of Darien. by John Masefield
Ammon stickled for the eternal principle of righteousness, and contended that it had been violated in the first instance.
From Cotton is King, and Pro-Slavery Arguments Comprising the Writings of Hammond, Harper, Christy, Stringfellow, Hodge, Bledsoe, and Cartrwright on This Important Subject by E. N. Elliott
The film, which was made largely with a $20,000 grant from the Wikimedia Foundation, spends time showing what has been lost to Wikipedia because of stickling rules of citation and verification.
From New York Times ● Aug. 8, 2011
After the "Schweinehund Speech," however, it was clear that Briand and Poincare are one in stickling for cash.
From Time Magazine Archive
At last the Senate sent to make terms with Cinna; but while they were stickling about acknowledging his title of consul, he advanced to the gates.
From The Gracchi Marius and Sulla Epochs of Ancient History by A.H. Beesley
"All the caves you want," said Bernel, scornful at such unusual stickling on the part of his chum.
From A Maid of the Silver Sea by John Oxenham
Call it by another name, then—if you prefer stickling about terms.
From The Finger of Fate A Romance by Mayne Reid
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