Synonyms of the word

niggle

• n. A minor complaint or problem.
• n. (obsolete) Small, cramped handwriting.
• v. (transitive, obsolete) To trifle with; to deceive; to mock.
• v. (transitive) To use, spend, or do in a petty or trifling manner.
• v. (intransitive) To dwell too much on minor points or on trifling details.
• v. (intransitive, chiefly Britain) To fidget, fiddle, be restless.

argue

• v. (obsolete) To prove.
• v. To show grounds for concluding (that); to indicate, imply.
• v. (intransitive) To debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints.
• v. (intransitive) To have an argument, a quarrel.
• v. (transitive) To present (a viewpoint or an argument therefor).

bicker

• v. To quarrel in a tiresome, insulting manner.
• v. To move tremulously, quiver, shimmer (of a water stream, of a flame).
• v. To skirmish; to exchange blows; to fight.
• n. A skirmish; an encounter.
• n. (Scotland, obsolete) A fight with stones between two parties of boys.
• n. A wrangle; also, a noise, as in angry contention.
• n. (Scotland) A wooden drinking-cup or other dish.

brabble

• v. (obsolete) To clamour; to contest noisily.
• v. To babble (of a stream or other watercourse).
• n. (obsolete) A broil; a noisy contest; a wrangle.

contend

• v. To strive in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.
• v. To struggle or exert oneself to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend.
• v. To strive in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue.

debate

• n. (obsolete) Strife, discord.
• n. An argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting, often with more than two people,…
• n. An informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views.
• n. (uncountable) Discussion of opposing views.
• n. (Frequently in French form débat) A type of literary composition, taking the form of a discussion or disputation,…
• v. (transitive, intransitive) To participate in a debate; to dispute, argue, especially in a public arena.
• v. (obsolete, intransitive) To fight.
• v. (obsolete, transitive) To engage in combat for; to strive for.
• v. (transitive) To consider (to oneself), to think over, to attempt to decide.

fence

• n. A thin, human-constructed barrier which separates two pieces of land or a house perimeter.
• n. Someone who hides or buys and sells stolen goods, a criminal middleman for transactions of stolen goods,…
• n. Skill in oral debate.
• n. The art or practice of fencing.
• n. A guard or guide on machinery.
• n. (figuratively) A barrier, for example an emotional barrier.
• n. (computing, programming) A memory barrier.
• v. (transitive) To enclose, contain or separate by building fence.
• v. (transitive) To defend or guard.
• v. (transitive) To engage in the selling or buying of stolen goods.
• v. (intransitive, sports) To engage in (the sport) fencing.
• v. (intransitive, equestrianism) To jump over a fence.

fret

• v. (transitive, obsolete/poetic) To devour, consume; eat.
• v. (transitive and intransitive) To gnaw, consume, eat away.
• v. (intransitive) To be worn away; to chafe; to fray.
• v. (transitive) To cut through with fretsaw, create fretwork.
• v. (transitive) To chafe or irritate; to worry.
• v. (intransitive) To worry or be anxious.
• v. To be vexed; to be chafed or irritated; to be angry; to utter peevish expressions.
• v. To make rough, agitate, or disturb; to cause to ripple.
• v. To be agitated; to be in violent commotion; to rankle.
• v. (music) To press down the string behind a fret.
• n. The agitation of the surface of a fluid by fermentation or other cause; a rippling on the surface of water.
• n. Agitation of mind marked by complaint and impatience; disturbance of temper; irritation.
• n. Herpes; tetter.
• n. (mining, in the plural) The worn sides of river banks, where ores, or stones containing them, accumulate…
• n. (music) One of the pieces of metal/wood/plastic across the neck of a guitar or other musical instrument…
• n. An ornamental pattern consisting of repeated vertical and horizontal lines (often in relief).
• n. (heraldry) A saltire interlaced with a mascle.
• v. To ornament with raised work; tovariegate; to diversify.
• n. A strait; channel.
• n. (Northumbria) A fog or mist at sea or coming inland from the sea.

fuss

• n. (countable or uncountable) Excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something.
• n. A complaint or noise; a scene.
• n. An exhibition of affection or admiration.
• v. (intransitive) To be very worried or excited about something, often too much.
• v. (intransitive) To fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry about something.
• v. (intransitive, especially of babies) To cry or be ill-humoured.
• v. (intransitive, with over) To show affection for, especially animals.
• v. (transitive) To pet.

pettifog

• v. To quibble over trivial matters; nitpick.
• v. To do a petty business as a lawyer, or carry out law business in a petty or tricky way.

quibble

• n. A trivial or minor complaint, objection or argument.
• n. A shift or turn from the point in question; a trifling or evasive distinction; a cavil.
• n. (obsolete) A pun.
• v. (intransitive) To complain or argue in a trivial or petty manner.

squabble

• n. A minor fight or argument as between children, for example.
• v. (intransitive) To participate in a minor fight or argument.
• v. (transitive, printing) To disarrange, so that the letters or lines stand awry and require readjustment.

worry

• v. (intransitive) To be troubled, to give way to mental anxiety.
• v. (transitive) Disturb the peace of mind of; afflict with mental agitation or distress.
• v. (transitive) To harass; to irritate or distress.
• v. (transitive) To seize or shake by the throat, especially of a dog or wolf.
• v. (transitive) To touch repeatedly, to fiddle with.
• v. (transitive, obsolete, except in Scots) To strangle.
• n. A strong feeling of anxiety.
• n. An instance or cause of such a feeling.