noun
sophistry
SAH-fih-stree/ˈsɑːfɪstri/
Clever reasoning that misleads or relies on false arguments.
He uses sophistry to make an unfair policy seem reasonable.
Etymology
Sophistria names reasoning associated with sophists, whose title shifted from a skilled or learned person to a disparaged paid teacher. This disparaging association links intellectual cleverness with misleading argument.
In context
what is rhetoric sophistry just trying to get your own opinion across you don't care about truth
More examples
- No amount of sophistry can turn a broken promise into honesty.
- The editorial mistakes clever sophistry for sound economic analysis.
- She patiently exposes the sophistries in his defense of cheating.
Forms
sophistry · sophistries
sophist noun — Someone who uses clever but misleading arguments.
sophistical adjective — Relying on clever but misleading reasoning.