cogency

noun

ˈkō-jən(t)-sē How to pronounce cogency (audio)
Definition of cogencynext
1
as in effectiveness
the capacity to persuade the cogency of Thomas Paine's celebrated case for American independence

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in impact
the quality of an utterance that provokes interest and produces an effect satirical comments of great cogency

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 cogency Backhaus, by contrast, works it all out for her audience in terms that might be hopeful but lack theatrical cogency. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 In one of its most demanding assignments of recent memory, the San Francisco Opera Chorus led by John Keene embodies one population after another — monkeys, undersea dwellers, gods and heavenly hangers-on — and does it with power and cogency. — Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Nov. 2025 TikTok’s algorithm started swamping me with humanities grad students of varying cogency. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2025 Masterpiece remakes offer something very different, speaking to us with surprising urgency and cogency across time. — Jim Shepard, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025 European leaders refused to comment on the record about their perceptions of Biden’s cogency. — Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY, 12 July 2024 The emphasis is on technical perfection, formal cogency, and unity of interpretive approach. — Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024 Here, his body of writing, published as well as unpublished, historical as well as contemporaneous, stands out for its cogency, intricacy, and fluency. — Fredrik Logevall, Foreign Affairs, 20 Dec. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cogency
  1. effectiveness
  2. impact
  3. conclusiveness
  4. significance
  5. validity
  6. importance
  7. authority
  8. persuasiveness
Noun
  • Its effectiveness will depend on how federal agencies identify emerging threats and respond to companies or individuals that cross legal boundaries.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has repeatedly questioned whether women should serve in ground combat and special operations roles, arguing that their inclusion could undermine military effectiveness and physical standards.
    — James LaPorta, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of effectiveness
Noun
  • Propositions 41 and 42 While Proposition 40 focuses narrowly on taxing billionaires, competing Propositions 41 and 42 would have broader impacts on the state’s ability to enact new taxes.
    — Vanessa Martínez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Greg Totten, the association’s CEO and former longtime Ventura County district attorney, also criticized the decision and its impact on victims’ families.
    — Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of impact
Noun
  • On Friday morning, Burke’s defense team tried to sow doubt about the conclusiveness of the autopsy conducted in the case.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026
  • But his dictionary, with its conclusiveness, was a huge publishing success.
    — Louis Menand, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Definition of conclusiveness
Noun
  • Highway 50 among persistent collision hotspots The findings have particular significance for the capital region, where Highway 50 connects growing foothill suburbs to Sacramento.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 11 Nov. 2026
  • That final trek on the road still carries a deep amount of significance for Manzanera.
    — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of significance
Noun
  • Professional services consultancy Deloitte has access to the voting data to ensure the validity and fairness of the process.
    — Nathan Tavares, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Several of the field’s top scientists described marketing by IFG and other clinics selling the technology to patients of advanced maternal age — 35 and older — as misleading and questioned the validity of their claims.
    — Megan Molteni, STAT, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of validity
Noun
  • Speaking in Spanish, Leo emphasized the importance of protecting family life and delivered a pointed criticism of both laws.
    — Carrie Kahn, NPR, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The fable emphasizes the importance of valuing and respecting all members of a community, regardless of size, background or abilities.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of importance
Noun
  • In 2021, port authorities increased their daily dockage fee to $1,700.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026
  • Gaza authorities say more than 20,00 tents were flooded in just two days.
    — Lauren Frayer, NPR, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of authority
Noun
  • Others cite the lack of a persuasive justification for conflict, the strikes themselves and subsequent fits and starts of peacemaking as evidence that America’s global image has been undermined, as has the persuasiveness of its public claims.
    — Christopher Nichols, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The persuasiveness of these efforts, however, is diminished when a WRO is modified without transparency and despite readily accessible evidence indicating that conditions for the workers have not truly improved.
    — Charity Ryerson, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of persuasiveness

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cogency
cogent
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Cite this Entry

“Cogency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cogency. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cogency

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cogency

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