QUIBBLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does quibble mean? 

• QUIBBLE (noun)
  The noun QUIBBLE has 1 sense:

1. an evasion of the point of an argument by raising irrelevant distinctions or objections

  Familiarity information: QUIBBLE used as a noun is very rare.

• QUIBBLE (verb)
  The verb QUIBBLE has 2 senses:

1. evade the truth of a point or question by raising irrelevant objections

2. argue over petty things

  Familiarity information: QUIBBLE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• QUIBBLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An evasion of the point of an argument by raising irrelevant distinctions or objections

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

cavil; quibble; quiddity

Hypernyms ("quibble" is a kind of...):

equivocation; evasion (a statement that is not literally false but that cleverly avoids an unpleasant truth)

Derivation:

quibble (evade the truth of a point or question by raising irrelevant objections)

• QUIBBLE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they quibble    ... he / she / it quibbles   
Past simple: quibbled   
Past participle: quibbled   
-ing form: quibbling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Evade the truth of a point or question by raising irrelevant objections

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "quibble" is one way to...):

circumvent; dodge; duck; elude; evade; fudge; hedge; parry; put off; sidestep; skirt (avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

quibble (an evasion of the point of an argument by raising irrelevant distinctions or objections)

quibbler (a disputant who quibbles; someone who raises annoying petty objections)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Argue over petty things

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

bicker; brabble; niggle; pettifog; quibble; squabble

Context example:

Let's not quibble over pennies

Hypernyms (to "quibble" is one way to...):

argue; contend; debate; fence (have an argument about something)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence examples:

Sam and Sue quibble
Sam wants to quibble with Sue

Derivation:

quibbler (a disputant who quibbles; someone who raises annoying petty objections)

 Context examples 

A quibble arose concerning the phrase “break out.”

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Would you wish by trick or quibble to juggle me out of these last acres?

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A most ingenious quibble!

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)