Word of the Day
February 4, 2025
Quibble
To argue or find fault over trivial matters or minor concerns; to evade the point in question by artifice, play upon words, or by raising insignificant or impertinent questions to trifle in argument or discourse.
From the obsolete noun 'quib,' a petty verbal distinction or evasion, likely from Latin 'quibus' (for whom, for which), used frequently in legal documents and thus associated with lawyers' hair-splitting arguments. First recorded in English around 1610.
Usage Examples
- Democrats want to quibble over the details of immigration enforcement while ignoring the fundamental issue of border security.
- Rather than address the substance of the complaint, the bureaucrat chose to quibble over procedural technicalities.
- It takes mental discipline to avoid getting drawn into quibbling over minor points when the real issue demands attention.
From the Show
The word quibble captured a recurring theme in the February 4, 2025 broadcast as guests discussed how opponents deflect from substantive policy debates. Kim Monson illustrated the concept with Democrats’ response to immigration enforcement, noting their tendency to quibble over procedural details rather than address the underlying crisis. Rose Pugliese encountered similar quibbling from critics who questioned why legislators would spend time on a 10-cent bag fee when the real issue is Colorado’s cumulative burden of fees and regulations. Explore how quibbling tactics distract from meaningful policy discussions in Carter’s Water Legacy and the Battle for Parental Rights.