SOPHISTICAL Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

sophistic

adjective

variants or sophistical

Definition of sophistic

as in specious

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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 sophistic The characters are treated with odd touches of realism and their sophistic arguments are stingingly psychologized. — Charles McNulty, latimes.com, 8 Sep. 2017

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sophistic

Adjective

In the world of wellness and health content, few areas of our anatomy attract more interest lately — and specious claims — than the gut microbiome.

— Will Stone, NPR, 22 June 2026
In fairness, concluding no one cares is a specious take, at best, based on the evidence Tuesday.

— Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 10 June 2026

Definition of specious

Adjective

An analyzer may be accurate in the laboratory but slow or misleading in the field.

— Gregory Shahnovsky, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
The title and summary of a Florida property tax cut proposal to be placed on the November ballot contain political rhetoric and are misleading, and must be redrafted, a judge has ruled.

— South Florida Sun Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of misleading

Adjective

For all the film focuses on Carlson’s irrational attempts to peg the murder on gay people, the actual gay man Tom disappears from the narrative for long periods of time.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 31 July 2026
Retailers’ reputations as poor environments for technology innovation is not unjustified, but their behavior is not completely irrational either.

— Richard Kestenbaum, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Definition of irrational

Adjective

As presented in the Gang’s illogical scapegoating, fear-mongering, and overall manipulative self-exoneration, the debate turned into a farce.

— Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026
For instance, a sleep issue prompt yields varied advice depending on prior conversational context, occasionally making illogical leaps.

— Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026

Definition of illogical

Adjective

Which is not entirely unreasonable given this very specific set of circumstances.

— Brian Grubb, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
Recalls are issued when vehicle owners, regulators, or manufacturers determine that a potentially faulty component presents an unreasonable safety risk or fails to meet specified standards.

— Jim Gorzelany, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of unreasonable

Adjective

But in each event—in the living act, the undoubted deed—there, some unknown but still reasoning thing puts forth the mouldings of its features from behind the unreasoning mask.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
Roosevelt surely understood that nameless, unreasoning, unjustified fear cannot be eradicated.

— New York Times, New York Times, 9 June 2026

Definition of unreasoning

Browse Nearby Words

sophisms

sophistic

sophisticate

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“Sophistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sophistic. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of sophistic

adjective

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