Skip to main content
to stickle

to stickle

1 9.9
To argue in a stubborn way about small unimportant details
  • verb
  • /ˈstɪkəl/
  • Archaic
translation icon : discutir
  • She tends to stickle over the smallest details during meetings.

Examples

  • They stickled so much about where to eat that they ended up staying home.

  • Don't stickle over small details!

  • If you stickle about every minor error, progress will be very slow.

  • She often stickles about the color of the curtains.

  • She tends to stickle over the tiniest details in her reports.

  • Don't stickle about the font choice; the content is what really matters.

  • He will stickle for accuracy, even if it delays the project.

Synonyms

to bicker
vsto stickle
36 4.1

Argue again and again with someone about small unimportant things

is more stubborn and deliberate than short petty arguments
to quarrel
vsto stickle
35 2.6

To argue angrily with someone about small things

is more stubborn and persistent over trivial details
to quibble
vsto stickle
26 7.0

To argue about small unimportant details to avoid the main point

is a stubborn dispute over minor details rather than evasive objections
to spat
vsto stickle
25 4.9

To have a short, unimportant argument with someone

is more prolonged and stubborn than brief quarrels
to split hairs
vsto stickle
  • Informal
15 6.8

Argue about very small differences that do not matter

involves stubborn arguing rather than mere fine distinctions
to flite
vsto stickle
  • Archaic
2 9.9

To argue loudly with someone and continue for a long time

is more stubborn rather than loud or nagging in tone
to niggle
vsto stickle
  • UK
1 8.2

To argue about very small, unimportant details

is more about deliberate arguing rather than quiet worry
to cavil
vsto stickle
1 9.9

To complain about small unimportant details

is more about arguing stubbornly instead of listing objections
to argufy
vsto stickle
  • Archaic
9.9

To disagree angrily about small, unimportant things

is more stubborn and persistent in such disputes
to brabble
vsto stickle
  • Archaic
9.9

To argue loudly about small unimportant things

is more stubborn and disputatious but not necessarily noisy
to pettifog
vsto stickle
  • Archaic
9.9

Argue about small, unimportant details and waste time

is more general stubborn arguing not specifically legalistic or dishonest

Antonyms

1.0

Have the same opinion or say yes

47 6.4

To agree with someone about something

How Argumentative

to argue
607 1.1
to stickle
  • Archaic
1 9.9
to quibble
26 7.0
to disagree
1.0

Surface Forms

stickle infinitive
stickling present participle
stickles third person singular
stuckled past
stuckled past participle

Etymology

The word stickle probably comes from the idea of stick ('to hold' or 'be fixed') and is like stickler, a person who will not let go of a rule. A helpful way to remember stickle is to imagine someone who 'sticks' to tiny points and argues stubbornly about small details.