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 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 — Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024 Here, his body of writing, published as well as unpublished, historical as well as contemporaneous, stands out for its cogency, intricacy, and fluency.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
  1. effectiveness
  2. impact
  3. conclusiveness
  4. significance
  5. validity
  6. importance
  7. authority
  8. persuasiveness
Noun
  • Despite concerns over data privacy and the rule’s effectiveness, the legislation received support in the General Assembly.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026
  • The paper also describes ongoing research into each option's monitoring effectiveness.
    — Andrew Jones, Space.com, 9 July 2026
Definition of effectiveness
Noun
  • Mexico’s World Cup run may be over, but for many Mexican Americans, its emotional impact endures.
    — Alfredo Corchado, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
  • Ship operators are favoring the Iranian route over the corridor along Oman’s coast, reinforcing the impact of the tanker attacks earlier this week, according to the trade intelligence firm Kpler.
    — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 10 July 2026
Definition of impact
Noun
  • But his dictionary, with its conclusiveness, was a huge publishing success.
    — Louis Menand, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Definition of conclusiveness
Noun
  • This concert will take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and already has fans speculating whether Beyoncé might make an appearance given the significance of the date.
    — Caché McClay, USA Today, 11 July 2026
  • The ceasefire framework explicitly designates Iran and Oman to negotiate the strategic waterway’s future management, giving Araghchi’s visit to Muscat particular significance.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Definition of significance
Noun
  • In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI upheld the validity of the Latin Rite and urged priests to offer such a Mass if their parishioners demanded it.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
  • Looking forward, the exclusive use of domain data and task training also establishes the validity of bespoke DSLMs for complex, audited agentic work.
    — Scott Zoldi, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of validity
Noun
  • Smith’s grandmother, Angela Perdew, emphasized the importance of fireworks safety when speaking with WMC.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 10 July 2026
  • Advertisement The first inkling of recalibration came when tech bros suddenly started emphasizing the importance of taste.
    — Miranda Shanahan, Time, 10 July 2026
Definition of importance
Noun
  • In October, authorities established a cemetery in the city of Deir al Balah to bury unidentified bodies recovered from around the enclave.
    — Bilal Shbeir, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • The board needs to establish the authority structure and time-to-execution for such scenarios.
    — Anjana Susarla, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
Definition of authority
Noun
  • That McDuffie is close—despite his low-key affect and late entry in the race—speaks more to apprehension about Lewis George than to the persuasiveness of his campaign.
    — Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026
  • The persuasiveness of the AI persona is so strong that people can be misled.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Definition of persuasiveness

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Cite this Entry

“Cogency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cogency. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cogency

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cogency

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