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 — Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024 Here, his body of writing, published as well as unpublished, historical as well as contemporaneous, stands out for its cogency, intricacy, and fluency.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
  • The agency has repeatedly reaffirmed the pill’s safety and effectiveness over the years, in addition to easing a number of restrictions on the drug, including dropping a requirement that it be dispensed in person.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The agency has repeatedly reaffirmed the pill's safety and effectiveness over the years, in addition to easing a number of restrictions on the drug, including dropping a requirement that it be dispensed in person.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of effectiveness
Noun
  • At Duke University, meanwhile, the Neuroartifact project is using neuroscience and AI to better understand the cognitive impact of archaeological artifacts.
    — Jacqueline Ortoleva, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Executives from French media and entertainment group Mediawan Group, whose production banner portfolio includes Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment, were among the people on stage getting quizzed about the impact of mega-mergers.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 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
  • The scene’s relatively minor significance reflects a fourth season that comes into its own in a similarly minor key.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Oct. 2026
  • China recognized the strategic significance of these resources early and has spent decades building a near monopoly over the critical mineral industry in many parts of Africa.
    — Jared Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of significance
Noun
  • The canvassing board is made up of Garcia and two county judges, and is responsible for determining the validity of ballots and whether they should be counted.
    — Joshua Ceballos, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
  • There’s a distrust in the validity of big data, with everything seeming more vulnerable than ever to outside influence by unseen forces with specific agendas.
    — Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of validity
Noun
  • What readers are saying The comments on the article discuss the importance and challenges of effective listening, particularly reflective or active listening.
    — Maggie Penman, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The project helped bring attention to regenerative farming and the importance of maintaining a sustainable ecosystem where people and animals can thrive together.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of importance
Noun
  • Meta was working to integrate Manus' team and technology into its system when authorities blocked the deal.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Bulgarian maritime authorities said Wednesday that the search efforts for the crew of Alfa Watan had been suspended and wouldn't resume.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of authority
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
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 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cogency

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cogency

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