Quibble

Quibble (verb) refers to the practice of arguing or raising objections about a trivial matter. It can also be used as a noun to indicate a slight or trivial objection or criticism. In discussions, quibbling often detracts from more significant issues by focusing on minor details instead of the central point. It is commonly associated with avoiding the main subject or evading a straightforward confrontation.

Quibble meaning with examples

• During the meeting, instead of addressing the main economic policies, the senator chose to quibble over the wording of a single clause, distracting everyone from the important issues at hand. Such behavior frustrated his colleagues who felt there were more pressing matters requiring attention. They understood that his objections might serve to delay the discussion unnecessarily and prevent progress on a consensus regarding the proposed fiscal measures.
• At the family dinner, the conversation turned heated when Dad began to quibble about who should take the trash out. While Mom passionately argued that it was everyone’s turn, Dad focused solely on the specific wording in their original chore agreement. This back-and-forth left little room for anyone to suggest a solution, showing how easily trivial points could escalate into a full-fledged debate over something relatively unimportant.
• In her review of the novel, the critic chose to quibble over the protagonist's clothing choices instead of exploring the deeper themes of the story, such as love, loss, and redemption. This narrow focus detracted from a constructive analysis and made it seem like she missed the brilliance of the author's narrative techniques. For readers seeking an in-depth understanding, her comments felt like a shallow take on a profound work of literature.
• When preparing for the final presentation, Alex was quick to quibble about the design of his colleague's slides, nitpicking over font styles and color choices. Instead of contributing meaningfully to content development, he fixated on aesthetics, creating a tense dynamic. His input, while valuable, overshadowed the more significant improvements the team could have achieved had they collectively addressed the core message and flow of their presentation.
• At the negotiation table, both parties spent far too long quibbling over minor contract details, missing better opportunities for collaboration. Rather than focusing on significant points like pricing and delivery schedules, they allowed themselves to be sidetracked by less critical elements. Their quibbling ultimately resulted in a drawn-out process that could have been resolved more efficiently through open dialogue and a commitment to finding a win-win solution.