1
as in complained
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 bickered
to express different opinions about something often angrily
don't quibble over who gets to sit in front
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of quibbled
The story that’s being quibbled about concerns a teen suicide.
—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
During a debate Tuesday, some lawmakers quibbled over whether the bill would infringe on the free market.
—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
Some trustees saw the enforcement approach as reasonable and quibbled with the details, while others wanted Wilmette to go much further in its restrictions.
—
Shun Graves,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
Those specific numbers can obviously be quibbled with.
—
Aaron Gleeman,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
That trove included more than 300 black-and-white photographs, shared via JSTOR, which capture both Lulu the woman and Lulu the clown, though Lulu would have quibbled with the distinction.
—
April White,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Aug. 2025
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
During a debate Tuesday, some lawmakers quibbled over whether the bill would infringe on the free market.
—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
Some trustees saw the enforcement approach as reasonable and quibbled with the details, while others wanted Wilmette to go much further in its restrictions.
—
Shun Graves,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
Those specific numbers can obviously be quibbled with.
—
Aaron Gleeman,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
That trove included more than 300 black-and-white photographs, shared via JSTOR, which capture both Lulu the woman and Lulu the clown, though Lulu would have quibbled with the distinction.
—
April White,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quibbled
Verb
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In the meantime, residents of the Los Angeles neighborhood have complained of respiratory symptoms, and local businesses have tried to push on while feeling the economic impact spurred by the haze that has become a daily — and anxiety-inducing — occurrence.
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But passengers complained of a lack of information, hotel rooms were not available everywhere, and some travelers' journeys stretched through the night.
Verb
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King bickered with fans on social media.
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But Tilly and Gershon playfully bickered onstage as the former remembered things slightly differently, with Tilly saying the problem had more to do with a shot of her hand on Gershon's crotch that was deemed too realistic.
Verb
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The crime went unsolved for many years, prompting Mason to start making this movie in the early 2000s, and the immediate conclusion to jump to is that the LAPD maybe wasn’t too fussed about it.
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Dunst doesn’t get fussed about that sort of thing.
Verb
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Bland was obsessed with religion, but that did not amount to insanity, the prosecutor argued.
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During the primary the two contenders agreed on most issues, but Valdez argued throughout the campaign that Reynoso wasn't outspoken enough.
Verb
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Coach Arne Slot moaned about VAR but his problems lie much closer to home.
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Critics moaned when the CFP committee picked the Hurricanes over Notre Dame as the last Power 4 entry into the playoffs.
Verb
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He's previously quarreled with LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook and Draymond Green.
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On Thursday, the Miami City Commission deferred voting on two commissioners’ requests to fund affordable housing and parks in their districts after officials quarreled over which areas in the city have the most pressing needs, an argument that cut to the core of the wealth divide in Miami.
Verb
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In the shadows of the long-hut, the elders muttered among themselves—of portents and crops and weather and the storage of grain.
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As for one consistent complaint heard muttered amid bleary-eyed guests of the former Standard, Schrager confirms the appropriate adjustments have been made.
Verb
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Police said the bail agent and driver fought, and the agent fired one round, with the bullet striking the suspect in the arm.
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Thousands of Black men fought in the conflict for the Continental Army, the British or in pursuit of their own chance at liberation.
Cite this Entry
“Quibbled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quibbled. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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