- quibble, quiddity, cavil - an evasion of the point of an argument by raising irrelevant distinctions or objections
--1 is a kind of evasion, equivocation
- quiddity, haecceity - the essence that makes something the kind of thing it is and makes it different from any other
--2 is a kind of kernel, substance, core, center, essence, gist, heart, heart and soul, inwardness, marrow, meat, nub, pith, sum, nitty-gritty