stickle

[ stik-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

, stick·led, stick·ling.

1. to argue or haggle insistently, especially on trivial matters.
2. to raise objections; scruple; demur.

stickle

/ ˈstɪkəl /

verb

1. to dispute stubbornly, esp about minor points
2. to refuse to agree or concur, esp by making petty stipulations

Word History and Origins

Origin of stickle¹

1520–30; variant of obsolete stightle to set in order, frequentative of stight to set in order, Middle English stighten, Old English stihtan to arrange; cognate with German stiften, Old Norse stētta to set up

Word History and Origins

Origin of stickle¹

C16 stightle (in the sense: to arbitrate): frequentative of Old English stihtan to arrange; related to Old Norse stētta to support

Example Sentences

Inside, posters with the Communist Party hammer and stickle emblem featured slogans that read: “Safeguarding the Party and the country’s secrets is every citizen’s required duty.”

From Seattle Times

Rice’s situation — the stickling intruder bent on curtailing the freedom of action customarily enjoyed by denizens of a backwater — may be nothing new to readers of suspense fiction, but Rice himself is full of surprises.

From Washington Post

"It is just about stickling to your systems and trusting in the bubble you are in."

From BBC

Browne's Pastoral, "The Squirrel Hunt," we read of— "Patient anglers, standing all the day Near to some shallow stickle, or deep bay."

From Project Gutenberg

This is seen in their way of stickling for accuracy when others repeat familiar word-forms.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• backfire
• balk
• blanch
• blink
• cringe
• demur
• flinch
• hesitate
• reel
• shudder
• tremble
• turn away
• waver
• wince