Meanings
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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.
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2
noun
the art or practice of contentious logical disputation
Socrates contrasts dialectic with eristic, which seeks victory in argument.
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3
noun
a person devoted to contentious or specious disputation
The eristic challenged every claim without offering a coherent position.
Thesaurus
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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.