eristic

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ɪˈrɪstɪk/ UK /eˈrɪstɪk/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
characterized by argumentative, often specious reasoning intended to win rather than discover truth

The discussion collapsed into eristic point-scoring instead of honest inquiry.
2

noun
the art or practice of contentious logical disputation

Socrates contrasts dialectic with eristic, which seeks victory in argument.
3

noun
a person devoted to contentious or specious disputation

The eristic challenged every claim without offering a coherent position.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · characterized by... contentious disputatious sophistical

2 noun · the art or practice of... disputationpolemicssophistry

3 noun · a person devoted to... disputant controversialist sophist

Opposites

dialectical cooperative

Word family

Derived forms eristicaleristically

Related forms Erisdialectic sophistrypolemics

Etymology

From Ancient Greek eristikos, 'fond of wrangling,' from erizein, 'to quarrel,' and ultimately eris, 'strife.' The adjective entered English before the noun senses for the practice and its practitioner.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# eristic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ɪˈrɪstɪk/
**IPA (UK):** /eˈrɪstɪk/

## Meanings
1. characterized by argumentative, often specious reasoning intended to win rather than discover truth
2. the art or practice of contentious logical disputation
3. a person devoted to contentious or specious disputation

## Examples
- The discussion collapsed into eristic point-scoring instead of honest inquiry.
- Socrates contrasts dialectic with eristic, which seeks victory in argument.
- The eristic challenged every claim without offering a coherent position.

## Synonyms
- contentious
- disputatious
- sophistical
- disputation
- polemics

## Antonyms
- dialectical
- cooperative

## Derived Forms
- eristical
- eristically

## Related Forms
- Eris
- dialectic
- sophistry
- polemics

## Etymology
From Ancient Greek eristikos, 'fond of wrangling,' from erizein, 'to quarrel,' and ultimately eris, 'strife.' The adjective entered English before the noun senses for the practice and its practitioner.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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