What does sophistry mean?

Definitions for sophistry
ˈsɒf ə strisophist·ry

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word sophistry.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. sophism, sophistry, sophisticationnoun

    a deliberately invalid argument displaying ingenuity in reasoning in the hope of deceiving someone

Wiktionary

  1. sophistrynoun

    An argument that seems plausible, but is fallacious or misleading, especially one devised deliberately to be so.

  2. sophistrynoun

    The art of using deceptive speech or writing.

  3. sophistrynoun

    Cunning or trickery.

  4. Etymology: From sophistrie, from sophista, from σοφιστής, from σοφίζω, from σοφός

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Sophistrynoun

    Fallacious ratiocination.

    Etymology: from sophist.

    His sophistry prevailed; his father believed. Philip Sidney.

    These men have obscured and confounded the natures of things, by their false principles and wretched sophistry; tho’ an act be never so sinful, they will strip it of its guilt. South.

ChatGPT

  1. sophistry

    Sophistry refers to the use of clever but misleading arguments or reasoning, usually with the intention of deceiving or manipulating. It typically involves complex, fallacious arguments that may sound plausible on the surface but are actually incorrect or dishonest.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Sophistrynoun

    the art or process of reasoning; logic

  2. Sophistrynoun

    the practice of a sophist; fallacious reasoning; reasoning sound in appearance only

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of sophistry in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of sophistry in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of sophistry in a Sentence

  1. David Hume:

    If we take in our hand any volume; of divinity or school metaphysics, for instance; let us ask, "Does it contain any abstract reasoning concerning quantity or number?" No. "Does it contain any experimental reasoning concerning matter of fact and existence?" No. Commit it then to the flames: for it can contain nothing but sophistry and illusion.

  2. Francis Bacon:

    Universities incline wits to sophistry and affectation.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

sophistry#100000#111863#333333

Translations for sophistry

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"sophistry." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 Dec. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/sophistry>.

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