casuist
an oversubtle or disingenuous reasoner, especially in questions of morality.
a person who studies and resolves moral problems of judgment or conduct arising in specific situations.
Origin of casuist
1Words Nearby casuist
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use casuist in a sentence
Mr. Tallmadge's desire not to be interrupted in the act might have enlightened him as to its defensibility; but he was no casuist.
The Open Question | Elizabeth RobinsShe would have made a good man of business—an acute lawyer—a fine casuist—a great divine.
No interpretation509 can mistake it; no casuist can doubt upon it; it is a work well done.
A Report of the Debates and Proceedings in the Secret Sessions of the Conference Convention | Lucius Eugene ChittendenThe city casuist might have smiled at the major premise—and laughed at the ingenuous conclusion.
Many others are put so as to suggest what the casuist never said, that is a special case is made a general rule of morals.
The Jesuits, 1534-1921 | Thomas J. Campbell
British Dictionary definitions for casuist
/ (ˈkæzjʊɪst) /
a person, esp a theologian, who attempts to resolve moral dilemmas by the application of general rules and the careful distinction of special cases
a person who is oversubtle in his or her analysis of fine distinctions; sophist
Origin of casuist
1Derived forms of casuist
- casuistic or casuistical, adjective
- casuistically, adverb
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
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