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Quibble is most familiar as a verb, but it can also function as a noun meaning "an evasion of or shift from the point" and "a minor objection or criticism." Both forms of quibble settled into English in the mid-17th century, presumably (though not definitively) as a diminutive of a now-obsolete noun quib, meaning “quibble.” Quib in turn may have come from a form of Latin qui, meaning “who,” a distant relation also of our word who.
Examples of quibble in a Sentence
Ashley Lee, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
Though general manager Chris Grier somewhat quibbled with the notion, the numbers show the Dolphins’ run and pass blocking diminished after Connor Williams’ season-ending ACL injury against Tennessee in Week 13.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for quibble 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'quibble.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near quibble
Cite this Entry
“Quibble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quibble. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
quibble
1 of 2 verb
quibble
2 of 2 noun
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