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View synonyms for ad hominem

ad hominem

[ ad hom-uh-nuhm-nem, ahd‐ ]

adjective

  1. attacking an opponent's character or motives rather than answering the argument or claim.
  2. appealing to one's prejudices, emotions, or special interests rather than to one's intellect or reason. Compare ad feminam.


ad hominem

/ æd ˈhɒmɪˌnɛm /

adjective

  1. directed against a person rather than against his arguments
  2. based on or appealing to emotion rather than reason
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


ad hominem

  1. A Latin expression meaning “to the man.” An ad hominem argument is one that relies on personal attacks rather than reason or substance.


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Word History and Origins

Origin of ad hominem1

First recorded in 1580–90 ad hominem fordef 2, and in 1780–90 ad hominem fordef 1; from Latin: literally, “to the man, to the person,” i.e., to the passions or prejudices or interests of the person
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Word History and Origins

Origin of ad hominem1

literally: to the man
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Example Sentences

But it has become increasingly ad hominem, with particular focus on his alleged anti-Semitism.

When it comes to ad hominem attacks, neither Woffinden nor Rose can rest on safe ground.

This was hardly an ad hominem assault, though West interpreted it that way.

It was a masterful bit of hypocritical eloquence, of argumentum ad hominem; but it was made to simple and illiterate hearers.

And thus, when in future they are condemned, they will say ad hominem that they are unjust, and thus will refute their judgment.

It was not to this, however, that he directed his objection: the argumentum ad hominem came more easily to him.

But it was the Argumentum ad hominem; and if my uncle Toby was not very expert at it, you may think, he might not care to use it.

In a case like this the argumentum ad hominem, though a perfectly fair one, is a perfectly useless one.

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