quibbling

[ kwib-ling ]

adjective

1. characterized by or consisting of quibbles; carping; niggling:

   quibbling debates.

noun

1. the act of a person who quibbles.
2. an instance of quibbling:

   a relationship marked by frequent quibblings.

Other Words From

• quibbling·ly adverb
• un·quibbling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quibbling¹

First recorded in 1650–60; quibble + -ing ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Quibbling over dates aside, 19th century Americans did insistently observe a day of remembrance.

From The Daily Beast

Despite a spiraling rabbit hole of media quibbling about what Huckabee supposedly said, the basic gist of his remarks were clear.

From The Daily Beast

Fast forward five decades, and mothers and daughters are still quibbling over food.

From The Daily Beast

Thus was the noble "royal law according to the Scripture" destroyed by the petty quibbling use of the word "neighbour."

From Project Gutenberg

Poetry had not as yet become the adversary of wit, nor had speculation abused itself by passing into quibbling.

From Project Gutenberg

His argument is of merciless length, and occasionally so minute as to sound like quibbling.

From Project Gutenberg

As one reads these decisions, there is no evidence of political log-rolling, or of legal quibbling.

From Project Gutenberg

Now, that's one of your quibbles, my dear Bishop, and I detest quibbling!

From Project Gutenberg