as in logic
formal
a formal argument that is formed by two statements and a conclusion which must be true if the two statements are true
An example of a syllogism is: "All men are human; all humans are mortal; therefore all men are mortal."
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Recent Examples of syllogism
And Lincoln has a famous syllogism where, If the Black man can be enslaved because his skin is darker than yours, then you can be enslaved by anyone whose skin is fairer than yours.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
The syllogism works only with two premises and a conclusion.
—
The Lost Women Of Science Initiative,
Scientific American,
30 Nov. 2023
The ability to count indefinitely beyond fingers or body parts; to read, write, store, and learn ideas through text; the tendency to reason abstractly with syllogisms and enthymemes and approximations of formal logic – all were tools for thinking that were culturally created and then transmitted.
—
Michael Muthukrishna,
Fortune,
31 Oct. 2023
This syllogism is embraced by many Democrats, who are determined to recapture an industrial working-class base, and many Republicans, who use it as evidence that the government has sold out American workers in the heartland.
—
Adam S. Posen,
Foreign Affairs,
20 Apr. 2021
Twitter users often accept a flawed syllogism by using a conclusion as one of the premises – namely, that the platform spreads truthful information.
—
Aaron Duncan,
The Conversation,
29 Oct. 2020
Chairman Xi will undoubtedly want to prevent this syllogism from presenting itself to the minds of Chinese Christians.
—
Cameron Hilditch,
National Review,
1 Oct. 2020
The syllogism runs something like this: Jews, regardless of their American citizenship, owe loyalty to Israel.
—
Los Angeles Times,
23 Aug. 2019
Realizing Santa wasn't real made the syllogism obvious.
—
Phil Plait,
Discover Magazine,
31 Dec. 2010
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
The syllogism works only with two premises and a conclusion.
—
The Lost Women Of Science Initiative,
Scientific American,
30 Nov. 2023
The ability to count indefinitely beyond fingers or body parts; to read, write, store, and learn ideas through text; the tendency to reason abstractly with syllogisms and enthymemes and approximations of formal logic – all were tools for thinking that were culturally created and then transmitted.
—
Michael Muthukrishna,
Fortune,
31 Oct. 2023
This syllogism is embraced by many Democrats, who are determined to recapture an industrial working-class base, and many Republicans, who use it as evidence that the government has sold out American workers in the heartland.
—
Adam S. Posen,
Foreign Affairs,
20 Apr. 2021
Twitter users often accept a flawed syllogism by using a conclusion as one of the premises – namely, that the platform spreads truthful information.
—
Aaron Duncan,
The Conversation,
29 Oct. 2020
Chairman Xi will undoubtedly want to prevent this syllogism from presenting itself to the minds of Chinese Christians.
—
Cameron Hilditch,
National Review,
1 Oct. 2020
The syllogism runs something like this: Jews, regardless of their American citizenship, owe loyalty to Israel.
—
Los Angeles Times,
23 Aug. 2019
Realizing Santa wasn't real made the syllogism obvious.
—
Phil Plait,
Discover Magazine,
31 Dec. 2010
Recent Examples of Synonyms for syllogism
Noun
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Cape Verde is camel logic on a football pitch.
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The same logic operates on the other side of the marketplace.
Noun
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Companies serious about their workforce strategy are running structured assessments across decision-making, analytical reasoning and collaboration to find where capability gaps exist.
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Sol also introduces a new maximum reasoning mode that gives the model more time to solve complex tasks.
Noun
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Rather than simply changing how people communicate, access information, or complete transactions, AI increasingly contributes to analysis, synthesis, content creation, decision support, and problem solving.
-
Women were complaining of redness, flakiness, or peeling with the use of tretinoin, a retinoid that promotes collagen synthesis and elastin renewal.
Cite this Entry
“Syllogism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/syllogism. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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