quibbled

verb

past tense of quibble
1
as in complained
to make often peevish criticisms or objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant he spent the entire evening quibbling about the historical inaccuracies in the television series on World War II

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bickered
to express different opinions about something often angrily don't quibble over who gets to sit in front

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of quibbled The story that’s being quibbled about concerns a teen suicide. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026 During a debate Tuesday, some lawmakers quibbled over whether the bill would infringe on the free market. — Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026 Those specific numbers can obviously be quibbled with. — Aaron Gleeman, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025 Some trustees saw the enforcement approach as reasonable and quibbled with the details, while others wanted Wilmette to go much further in its restrictions. — Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026 That trove included more than 300 black-and-white photographs, shared via JSTOR, which capture both Lulu the woman and Lulu the clown, though Lulu would have quibbled with the distinction. — April White, JSTOR Daily, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quibbled
  1. complained
  2. bickered
  3. fussed
  4. argued
  5. moaned
  6. quarreled
  7. muttered
  8. fought
Verb
  • By early 1775, Quebec’s governor complained that this letter was stirring up the population by planting dangerous doubts about British imperial authority.
    — Sarah M.S. Pearsall, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
  • Smith has long complained that Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau, hindered the province’s energy industry and fueled separatist sentiment.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
Definition of complained
Verb
  • King bickered with fans on social media.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026
  • But Tilly and Gershon playfully bickered onstage as the former remembered things slightly differently, with Tilly saying the problem had more to do with a shot of her hand on Gershon's crotch that was deemed too realistic.
    — Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 8 June 2026
Definition of bickered
Verb
  • The crime went unsolved for many years, prompting Mason to start making this movie in the early 2000s, and the immediate conclusion to jump to is that the LAPD maybe wasn’t too fussed about it.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Dunst doesn’t get fussed about that sort of thing.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 27 Nov. 2025
Definition of fussed
Verb
  • Defense attorneys argued during the trial that the defendants planned a peaceful protest and noise demonstration with fireworks to show support for people detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
    — Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026
  • The defense had argued to delay the hearing, saying in court filings this spring the high volume of discovery meant Robinson’s attorneys would be unable to adequately prepare.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of argued
Verb
  • Coach Arne Slot moaned about VAR but his problems lie much closer to home.
    — Phil Hay, New York Times, 4 May 2026
  • Critics moaned when the CFP committee picked the Hurricanes over Notre Dame as the last Power 4 entry into the playoffs.
    — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
Definition of moaned
Verb
  • In fact, Twain might well have quarreled with the whole premise of celebrating America’s 250th birthday.
    — Ron Chernow, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
  • He's previously quarreled with LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook and Draymond Green.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2026
Definition of quarreled
Verb
  • Bat met ball and, under his breath, Astros manager Joe Espada muttered an expletive.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 29 June 2026
  • In the shadows of the long-hut, the elders muttered among themselves—of portents and crops and weather and the storage of grain.
    — Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Definition of muttered
Verb
  • The future king of Britain descends from American patriots who fought against the crown he is destined to inherit, according to a new book tracing Prince William's family tree.
    — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
  • Both exist in spite of the odds, symbols of perseverance and community — memorials to those who fought to establish a new country and a new state, and who happened to do it in a place that proved particularly untamable.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of fought

Browse Nearby Words

quibble
quibbled
quibbler
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Cite this Entry

“Quibbled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quibbled. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of quibbled for Spanish Speakers

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