1
as in to complain
to make often peevish criticisms or objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant
he spent the entire evening quibbling about the historical inaccuracies in the television series on World War II
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to argue
to express different opinions about something often angrily
don't quibble over who gets to sit in front
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in objection
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of quibble
John Perrotto, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
The teams of Wikler, Martin and O’Malley have quibbled over other each other’s number of endorsements, particularly Martin’s endorsements.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 1 Feb. 2025
Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2025
But that’s a minor quibble about a kitchen that otherwise exudes competence.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for quibble
Verb
Some quibble with Sasaki being considered a prospect after playing four seasons in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball and think Anthony is the game’s best true prospect.
—John Perrotto, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
The teams of Wikler, Martin and O’Malley have quibbled over other each other’s number of endorsements, particularly Martin’s endorsements.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 1 Feb. 2025
Noun
While the setup is often different from what happens in a bustling medical office, a new study blows away quibbles over protocol and suggests that even when done perfectly, the method is second-rate.
—Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2025
But that’s a minor quibble about a kitchen that otherwise exudes competence.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for quibble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quibble
Verb
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Cannon complained to Delta and to the Department of Transportation, which regulates airlines.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
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The expression was being used by representatives of some rather polarizing businesses, such as private prisons and fracking operators, who complained to Mr. Brooks, the acting comptroller of the currency, that their bank accounts were being closed without warning.—
Rob Copeland,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
Verb
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Ramaphosa and other defenders of the Expropriation Act have argued that the policies are needed to reverse the nation’s apartheid-era legacy of disparities in land ownership.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
11 May 2025
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The same principle can apply in the Read case, where her defense team is arguing off-duty police framed her for the death of her boyfriend, who was also in the local police department.—
Taylor Romine,
CNN Money,
10 May 2025
Noun
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It was never sold in the U.S. thanks to the unwavering objections of a resolute reviewer at the FDA named Frances Oldham Kelsey.—
David Armstrong,
CNN Money,
10 May 2025
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With Republicans going it alone, over the objections of Democrats in the House and Senate critical of the tax package as a giveaway to the rich that will hurt Americans who depend on federal services, leaders will need almost every Republican on board.—
Lisa Mascaro,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2025
Verb
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Fans of the game have either enjoyed the series so far, nitpicked a number of differences between them, or both.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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The Kremlin’s sincerity in seeking a ceasefire is increasingly suspect after weeks of negotiating, nitpicking, and reneging on U.S. proposals already approved by Ukraine.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But if Trump follows through on his intent to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria, that may leave Israel and Turkey to bicker over the country without adult supervision.—
Shira Efron,
Foreign Affairs,
23 Apr. 2025
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Morrow and Turner bickered their way in and out of romance amid the tundra and always called one another by their last names, which was weirdly endearing.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
6 May 2025
Verb
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As Harper, from Queensland, Australia, pet Olive and stroked her face gently, her furious golden retriever, named Cub, sat upright and appeared to frown at his owner for fussing anyone other than him.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 May 2025
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Video footage of the animals shows the eagle fussing at the coyote and trying to chase it off.—
Amanda Kooser,
Forbes.com,
6 May 2025
Verb
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Are Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox fans fighting about something again? ...—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
9 May 2025
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Mothers whose children were killed by drunk drivers fight grief through Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or M.A.D.D.—
David Morgan,
CBS News,
9 May 2025
Noun
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The incident at the center of the cases unfolded after days of complaints from some UCLA faculty and students that a protest encampment was blocking free movement on campus and leading to the harassment of Jewish students.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2025
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Hours before he was announced as the sole finalist for the University of Florida’s top job last Sunday, Ono was booed during a commencement address in Ann Arbor over his handling of campus protests.—
Ian Hodgson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Quibble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quibble. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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