stickle

verb

stick·​le ˈsti-kəl How to pronounce stickle (audio)
stickled; stickling ˈsti-k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce stickle (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to contend especially stubbornly and usually on insufficient grounds
2
: to feel scruples : scruple

Examples of stickle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The hits — by Warwick, Dusty Springfield, Gene Pitney, et al. — started to flow, and Bacharach became known as one of pop’s most stickling perfectionists. Rob Hoerburger, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stickle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English stightlen, frequentative of stighten to arrange, from Old English stihtan; akin to Old Norse stētta to found, support

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stickle was in 1625

Dictionary Entries Near stickle

Cite this Entry

“Stickle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stickle. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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