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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of quibble
Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2025
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
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
And for suborbital space tourism, quibbling over definitions can take on a life of its own.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2025
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
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
-
Many complain about a lack of tort reform, unrestricted attorney advertising or litigation funding, all of which contribute significantly to the scam.—
Robert Tyson,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2025
-
The firing after a nearly 30-year run appeared to surprise Starkey, after reports that Daltrey was not happy with the drummer’s performance at a March Royal Albert Hall gig, complaining from stage that Starkey’s loud playing was throwing him off.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
27 May 2025
Verb
-
In a recent interview with The Bee, Weber criticized new efforts — including from members of her own party — to speed up California’s vote count, arguing elections officials already prioritize security and voter access.—
Nicole Nixon,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2025
-
Ramaphosa and other defenders of the land seizure law argue the policies are needed to reverse the nation’s apartheid-era legacy of disparities in land ownership.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
And an attorney representing local developers cited the law in objection to the county’s move to prevent thousands of new homes from being built beyond the county’s development boundary.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
23 May 2025
-
The defense objected to the response, and the judge sustained the objection, meaning the jury cannot consider his response as evidence.—
Nicki Brown,
CNN Money,
22 May 2025
Verb
-
Apple is not legally required to re-admit Fortnite, but the questions now are whether Apple is going to nitpick some specific thing to deny the app that caused all this, or whether Fortnite has somehow pushed the bounds of the results of the case to twist the knife even further.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
-
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
Verb
-
In the film, Lawrence and her co-star Robert Pattinson proved worthy adversaries, who bicker and screw their way into emotional oblivion in Ramsay’s tense portrait of a woman undone.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
17 May 2025
-
Protesters shouted from the back of the room and lawmakers bickered.—
Eric Lipton,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
The current plan would lift the SALT cap from $10,000 to $30,000, but a handful of blue-state Republicans have been fighting to raise the cap higher.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
21 May 2025
-
Moving to Italy was a big jump and then moving here was another big jump: from Serie B to a big club that fights in European competition.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
Noun
-
Like many other colleges and universities, Harvard drew intense criticism last year for its handling of pro-Palestinian protests and encampments following the start of the Israel-Hamas war, as well as complaints from Jewish alumni and students about antisemitism on campus.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
24 May 2025
-
Students across the country demanded that universities and the federal government sever ties with the Israeli government in protest of its military assaults on Palestinians.—
Anna Commander
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Quibble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quibble. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share