Arguments & Rhetoric Vocabulary

the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing

“His rhetoric inspired millions but lacked substance.”

Origin: Greek rhetorike (techne) `(art) of oratory` from rhetor `speaker` from rhesis `speech`

a strong verbal or written attack on someone's opinions or beliefs

“The essay was a polemic against corporate greed.”

Origin: Greek polemikos `warlike, hostile` from polemos `war`

a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something

“His diatribe against the new policy lasted twenty minutes.”

Origin: Greek diatribe `a wearing away, pastime` from diatribein `to wear away` from dia- `through` + tribein `to rub`

a long, angry speech of criticism or accusation

“She launched into a tirade about the poor service.”

Origin: French tirade `long speech` from Italian tirata `volley` from tirare `to pull, draw`

a lengthy and aggressive speech

“The coach's harangue motivated the team to victory.”

Origin: Old French arenge `public speech` possibly from Italian aringa or Medieval Latin harenga `assembly`

insulting, abusive, or highly critical language

“The debate devolved into personal invective.”

Origin: Latin invectivus `attacking` from invehere `to carry in, attack` from in- `into` + vehere `to carry`

an expression of sharp disapproval or criticism

“The public rebuke damaged his reputation.”

Origin: Old French rebuchier `to hack down, beat back` from re- `back` + buchier `to strike`

the expression of formal disapproval

“The senator faced censure for ethical violations.”

Origin: Latin censura `judgment, assessment` from censere `to assess, judge`

an expression of blame or disapproval

“The gentle reproof was more effective than anger.”

Origin: Old French reprove from reprover `to reprove` from Latin reprobare `to disapprove` from re- `back` + probare `to test`

a rebuke, especially an official one

“The employee received a formal reprimand for tardiness.”

Origin: French réprimande from Latin reprimenda `things to be repressed` from reprimere `to check, restrain`

an argument or evidence that contradicts or refutes something

“Her rebuttal dismantled every point of his argument.”

Origin: Old French reboter `to thrust back` from re- `back` + boter `to thrust`

the action of proving a statement or theory wrong

“The scientist published a complete refutation of the study.”

Origin: Latin refutatio `repelling, rebutting` from refutare `to repel, rebut` from re- `back` + *futare `to beat`

heated disagreement; an assertion in an argument

“His main contention was that the data was unreliable.”

Origin: Latin contentio `straining, contest` from contendere `to stretch, strive` from con- `together` + tendere `to stretch`

a confident and forceful statement of fact or belief

“Her assertion required substantial evidence to support it.”

Origin: Latin assertio `affirmation, claim` from asserere `to claim, maintain` from ad- `to` + serere `to join`

a previous statement from which another is inferred

“The argument rested on a false premise.”

Origin: Medieval Latin praemissa `proposition set before` from Latin praemittere `to send before` from prae- `before` + mittere `to send`

a form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn from two premises

“The classic syllogism: All men are mortal, Socrates is a man, therefore Socrates is mortal.”

Origin: Greek syllogismos `reasoning` from syllogizesthai `to infer` from syn- `together` + logizesthai `to reason`

a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning

“The inference was logical but the conclusion was wrong.”

Origin: Latin inferentia from inferre `to bring in, deduce` from in- `in` + ferre `to carry`

the process of reaching a conclusion by reasoning from general principles

“Through deduction, she solved the mystery.”

Origin: Latin deductio `a leading down` from deducere `to lead down` from de- `down` + ducere `to lead`

the process of reaching a general conclusion from specific observations

“Scientific theories are often developed through induction.”

Origin: Latin inductio `a leading in` from inducere `to lead in` from in- `into` + ducere `to lead`

a proposition that follows from one already proved

“A corollary of economic growth is increased consumption.”

Origin: Latin corollarium `money paid for a garland, gratuity` from corolla `little garland` diminutive of corona `crown`

the characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or community

“The company's ethos was built on transparency and trust.”

Origin: Greek ethos `nature, disposition, character, custom`

the principle of reason and judgment

“His argument relied on logos rather than emotional appeal.”

Origin: Greek logos `word, speech, reason` from legein `to say, speak`