COGENCY Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

cogency

noun

ˈkō-jən(t)-sē

Definition of cogency

as in effectiveness

the capacity to persuade the cogency of Thomas Paine's celebrated case for American independence

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 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 The play echoes this ever-important sentiment but with far less cogency on an American stage. — Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2024 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 — Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024 Here, his body of writing, published as well as unpublished, historical as well as contemporaneous, stands out for its cogency, intricacy, and fluency.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

Noun

How closely matched the flu vaccine is to the dominant strain of the season is part of what accounts for the year-to-year changes in the shot’s effectiveness.

— Elise Haulund, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Because supplements don't have to undergo FDA approval for safety or effectiveness before being sold, Wood also recommends looking for products independently tested by a reputable third party.

— Dr. Onaola Adedeji, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of effectiveness

Noun

Such filings typically chronicle the impact of a defendant's crimes, as well as his history, upbringing and other aggravating or mitigating factors.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
The argument that family foundations concentrate influence and defer impact for decades while assets compound is fair, and worth taking seriously.

— Vandana Arcot, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of impact

Noun

As the judge noted in her ruling, the ongoing controversy has as much to do with when and how the diagnostic gospels were compiled as the scientific validity of the ailment.

— Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026
As part of his plea, Kohberger waived the right to appeal, but that does not preclude him from filing a new case challenging the validity of his plea agreement.

— Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 27 July 2026

Definition of validity

Noun

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said keeping gas prices low and ensuring Iran never gets a hold of a nuclear weapon are of equal importance to the president.

— Tim Lister, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Getting losses down is of paramount importance to those clubs further down the pyramid, where Premier League riches are so far out of reach as to be a pipe dream.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of importance

Noun

Would New York authorities be willing to use their own police powers to, say, prevent federal agents from violating protesters’ constitutional rights or investigate crimes allegedly committed by federal agents?

— New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026
Elizabeth Jordan, 43, of West Haven, also must serve five years of supervised release, according to federal authorities.

— Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of authority

Noun

What gets funded should reflect the merits of the opportunity, not the persuasiveness of the person who built the deck.

— Amer Al Ahbabi, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Blarney Castle is, of course, home to the legendary Blarney Stone—a block of limestone built into the castle that’s said to gift eloquence and persuasiveness to whoever kisses it.

— Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2026

Definition of persuasiveness

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cogency

cogent

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“Cogency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cogency. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of cogency

noun

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