straw man
noun
1
: a weak or imaginary opposition (such as an argument or adversary) set up only to be easily confuted
2
: a person set up to serve as a cover for a usually questionable transaction
Examples of straw man in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Yet the events occurring within the Colorado bunker this season depict the real darkness that continues to permeate a society gutted and controlled by billionaires and vapid straw men.
—
Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
Indeed, most of the Lebanese characters here are more finely grained, even the minor ones who are meant to be bigoted straw men brought on to contrast with Suzanne’s natural generosity of spirit.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 12 Feb. 2026
But that straw man ignores the text of modern bills and laws, which include exceptions for emergencies and scheduling.
—Gleb Tsipursky, Washington Post, 21 Jan. 2026
This will enable the type of straw man circumstances to go underground and work at a global scale.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for straw man
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Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
Indeed, most of the Lebanese characters here are more finely grained, even the minor ones who are meant to be bigoted straw men brought on to contrast with Suzanne’s natural generosity of spirit.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 12 Feb. 2026
But that straw man ignores the text of modern bills and laws, which include exceptions for emergencies and scheduling.
—Gleb Tsipursky, Washington Post, 21 Jan. 2026
This will enable the type of straw man circumstances to go underground and work at a global scale.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for straw man
Cite this Entry
“Straw man.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/straw%20man. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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