variants
or sophistical
as in specious
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Recent Examples of sophistic
The characters are treated with odd touches of realism and their sophistic arguments are stingingly psychologized.
—
Charles McNulty, latimes.com, 8 Sep. 2017
Charles McNulty, latimes.com, 8 Sep. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sophistic
Adjective
-
There have been all sorts of concerns for a while, including shenanigans around using metrics from SaaS to apply to AI-native companies (that logic is specious at best).—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
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These novels offer a post-colonial perspective—an understanding that, though these Americans may have done something positive in China by building roads or hospitals, their very presence, and certainly their perspective on their purpose there, is specious.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
These false or misleading statements are characteristic of politicians with questionable integrity who are willing to say anything for political gain.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Hartsuch, a proponent of using ivermectin to treat COVID-19, alleges that in December 2021, Kent Nebel, then the executive director of the Board of Medicine, indicated that 17 Iowa doctors had complaints filed against them for spreading false or misleading information about COVID-19.—
Clark Kauffman,
Iowa Capital Dispatch,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Quick business fixes seem overwhelming at times, irrational at others.—
Sarah Blaskovich,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
This is far from an irrational worry.—
Rebecca Boyle,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
As a player, Q was erratic, illogical, and self-destructive — at one point requesting to be voted out at Tribal Council.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
25 Feb. 2026
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Link said there’s something illogical about ending widespread use of ExpressVote for early voting.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
There is a widespread but fallacious perception that India's tariffs are inordinately high.—
Mohan Kumar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Aug. 2025
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The same economists who believe in the same fallacious economic notions?—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
Adjective
-
Mid-century collective behavior theories considered social movements to be nonrational, spontaneous events occurring during moments of social and cultural breakdown.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Hartsuch appealed, but in October 2025, the Iowa Court of Appeals upheld the district court’s ruling, setting the stage for Hartsuch’s newest lawsuit alleging the board’s actions were unreasonable, violated his rights and destroyed his livelihood.—
Clark Kauffman,
Iowa Capital Dispatch,
28 Feb. 2026
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Too much one-sidedness can deplete both enthusiasm and resources — and wanting a roughly reciprocal relationship is not unreasonable.—
Judith Martin,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Bainbridge knew about secrets and unreasoning shame.—
Christopher Tayler,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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Let sound political prescience but take the place of an unreasoning prejudice, and this will be done.—
Frederick Douglass,
The Atlantic,
16 Aug. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Sophistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sophistic. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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