sophistical

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   apparently clever or plausible but actually fallacious or misleading

   The essay relied on a sophistical distinction that collapsed under careful examination.

2. 2
   adj

   relating to sophists or the practice of sophistry

   The dialogue challenges the sophistical methods used by paid teachers of rhetoric.

From Middle English sophistical, through Medieval Latin sophisticalis, from Latin sophista and Greek sophistēs 'wise man, expert, sophist.' Because the ancient Sophists became associated with clever but deceptive argument, the adjective developed its common critical sense 'plausible but fallacious.'

Topics