argumentum ad hominem
Britishnoun
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fallacious argument that attacks not an opponent's beliefs but his motives or character
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argument that shows an opponent's statement to be inconsistent with his other beliefs
-
an instance of either of these
Etymology
Origin of argumentum ad hominem
literally: argument to the person
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Andr� ' whole case for Dickens is an argumentum ad hominem.
From Time Magazine Archive
This is purely an argumentum ad hominem, for Maimonides does not regard the sublunar and superlunar worlds as independent of each other.
From A History of Mediaeval Jewish Philosophy by Husik, Isaac
The argumentum ad hominem is apt to bring down the argumentum ad baculum, it is as well to remember in time.
From The Letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Barrett, Vol. 1 (of 2) 1845-1846 by Browning, Robert
This was the argumentum ad hominem with a vengeance.
From Little Miss Grouch A Narrative Based on the Log of Alexander Forsyth Smith's Maiden Transatlantic Voyage by Crosby, Raymond Moreau
The bad character of the man, in place of being a palliation, was an aggravation of the offence, and this was satisfactorily proved by that argumentum ad hominem in which women so delight.
From A Search For A Secret (Vol 1 of 3) A Novel by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
