to quibble

Examples

• All

• Now, you could, you could quibble with some of the premises to this, but if you accept those premises, you wind up at that conclusion.

  Gregory B. Sadler - That Philosophy Guy

• Let's not quibble over details.

  Beta Test (2016)

• Now, I think we might quibble with that a little.

  The Royal Institution

• We have no time to quibble, William.

  Bloodrunners (2017)

• Now, do you want to quibble over nothing or do you want your story?

  The Gore Gore Girls (1972)

• But OK, let's not quibble then.

• True, one could quibble with the order in which the prizes were awarded.

  Academic text (2000)

• Let's not quibble.

  Galaxina (1980)

• But the committee didn't quantify the risk reduction, and it quibbled with some studies' design.

  Blog text (11)

• We have no time to quibble about the details of this project.

Synonyms

A

to argue

vsto quibble

607 1.1

To speak angrily with someone because you disagree

limits this anger to tiny objections used to avoid main points

T

to take issue

vsto quibble

45 6.3

Tell someone you do not agree with a statement or idea

does so instead by raising small side objections to dodge the issue

B

to bicker

vsto quibble

36 4.1

Argue again and again with someone about small unimportant things

uses recurring minor objections to divert from the principal issue

A

to argue over

vsto quibble

36 2.9

To talk with someone because you disagree about something

narrows objections to tiny parts rather than addressing the whole topic

N

to nitpick

vsto quibble

21 5.7

To complain about very small unimportant mistakes

turns such small criticisms into excuses to avoid the main matter

S

to squabble

vsto quibble

• Informal

18 4.4

To argue loudly about small unimportant things

uses those petty arguments to avoid addressing the main issue

S

to split hairs

vsto quibble

• Informal

15 6.8

Argue about very small differences that do not matter

uses those fine distinctions as a tactic to avoid central issues

F

to flite

vsto quibble

• Archaic

2 9.9

To argue loudly with someone and continue for a long time

objects about small points primarily as a way to avoid the main subject

N

to niggle

vsto quibble

• UK

1 8.2

To argue about very small, unimportant details

uses those petty worries to shift attention from the main point

S

to stickle

vsto quibble

• Archaic

1 9.9

To argue in a stubborn way about small unimportant details

raises trivial objections often to sidestep the central matter

C

to chicane

vsto quibble

9.9

To raise small objections to delay or block progress

is used to avoid the main point by making trivial objections

P

to pettifog

vsto quibble

• Archaic

9.9

Argue about small, unimportant details and waste time

uses trivial objections to distract from the central issue

A

to argufy

vsto quibble

• Archaic

9.9

To disagree angrily about small, unimportant things

frames small objections as a way to dodge the main topic

B

to brabble

vsto quibble

• Archaic

9.9

To argue loudly about small unimportant things

uses minor noisy complaints mainly to divert attention from the main point

Antonyms

A

to accept

∞ 1.3

To believe or agree that something is true

C

to concur

47 6.4

To agree with someone about something

How Forceful

to protest

283 3.2

to object

349 5.1

to complain

∞ 1.0

to quibble

26 7.0

Surface Forms

Etymology