straw man

noun

1
: a weak or imaginary opposition (such as an argument or adversary) set up only to be easily confuted
2
: a person set up to serve as a cover for a usually questionable transaction

Examples of straw man in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The straw man retort here is that the police have a tough and often dangerous job ensuring public safety for all of us. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 20 Jan. 2024 The argument is that the demonstration was built on a big straw man fallacy. Vera Bergengruen/buenos Aires, TIME, 23 May 2024 This is a straw man argument of the sort Williams delights in, in his Sun platform on the editorial pages. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 10 May 2024 Now, every good straw man has a kernel of truth to it. Samuel Clowes Huneke, The New Republic, 26 Oct. 2023 See all Example Sentences for straw man 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'straw man.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of straw man was in 1840

Dictionary Entries Near straw man

Cite this Entry

“Straw man.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/straw%20man. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.

Legal Definition

straw man

noun
: an intermediary for a transaction (as a conveyance of real property)
Last Updated: - Definition revised
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