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
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
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
Realizing Santa wasn't real made the syllogism obvious.
—Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 31 Dec. 2010
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
For Whom the Bell Tolls illustrate this trite syllogism.
—David Pryce-Jones, National Review, 22 Aug. 2019
Adam S. Posen, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
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
Realizing Santa wasn't real made the syllogism obvious.
—Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 31 Dec. 2010
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
For Whom the Bell Tolls illustrate this trite syllogism.
—David Pryce-Jones, National Review, 22 Aug. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for syllogism
Noun
-
Mechanistic interpretability helps reveal the underlying computational logic that neural networks employ to generate results.—
Rishabh Sambare,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
-
The great flaw in that theory is the supposition of logic in humans.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
Her reasoning, however, went deeper than just following parenting trends.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
15 July 2025
-
That includes the parts of the brain involved in impulse control and higher-order cognition, such as learning and reasoning and decision-making.—
The Marshall Project,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
Creatine, a supplement regularly recommended by personal trainers to support muscle synthesis (growth and recovery).—
Margaux Anbouba,
Vogue,
14 July 2025
-
Magnesium is a mineral needed for critical processes such as blood sugar and blood pressure regulation, bone health, nerve function, DNA synthesis, and stress response.1 Studies show that less than half of adults in the United States get enough magnesium daily.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
3 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Syllogism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/syllogism. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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