cogent

[koh-juh nt]

See more synonyms for cogent on Thesaurus.com

adjective

convincing or believable by virtue of forcible, clear, or incisive presentation; telling.
to the point; relevant; pertinent.

Origin of cogent

1650–60; < Latin cōgent- (stem of cōgēns, present participle of cōgere to drive together, collect, compel), equivalent to cōg- (co- co- + ag-, stem of agere to drive) + -ent- -ent

Related formsco·gent·ly, adverbnon·co·gent, adjectivenon·co·gent·ly, adverbun·co·gent, adjectiveun·co·gent·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for cogent

Contemporary Examples

The Daily Beast picks the most cogent takes on the arguments in the two marriage cases before the Supreme Court this week.
Best Reads on Gay Marriage at the Supreme Court
The Daily Beast
March 27, 2013
He ended with some cogent and compelling logic born of a desire not for revenge, but simple justice.
34 Years Later, Gunshots Still Echo From a Senseless Killing
Michael Daly
March 11, 2013
There is a cogent argument to be made that, as wars come to a close, military requirements go down and diplomatic demands go up.
Why Hill Briefing on Benghazi Won’t Improve Security
P.J. Crowley
December 18, 2012
Suffice it to say there was not a lot of cogent discussion of immigration policy.
Most Comments Are Horrible—Sites Look for Ways to Make Them Better
Jesse Singal
July 16, 2012
Webster Tarpley was obviously not anything like as as cogent Jon Kay.
Among the Truthers (And Other Conspiracy Theorists)
David Frum
April 3, 2012

Historical Examples

Also she would have cogent reason for keeping such a part in the affair a secret.
Wilfrid Cumbermede
George MacDonald
Considering his great distress, the reasons must have been cogent indeed.
Erasmus and the Age of Reformation
Johan Huizinga
That's the most cogent thought you ever had, but setting the date is the bride's business.
Masters of Space
Edward Elmer Smith
The Master was unimpeachable; His terse, cogent assertions were unanswerable.
Jesus the Christ
James Edward Talmage
And yet they have the broadest meaning and the most cogent application.
The Life Radiant
Lilian Whiting

British Dictionary definitions for cogent

cogent

adjective

compelling belief or assent; forcefully convincing

Derived Formscogency, nouncogently, adverb

Word Origin

C17: from Latin cōgent-, cōgēns, driving together, from cōgere, from co- together + agere to drive

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

Word Origin and History for cogent

adj.

1650s, from French cogent "necessary, urgent" (14c.), from Latin cogentem (nominative cogens), present participle of cogere "to curdle; to compel; to collect," literally "to drive together," from com- "together" (see co-) + agere "to drive" (see act (n.)).

cogent

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}cogent

Examples from the Web for cogent

Contemporary Examples

The Daily Beast picks the most cogent takes on the arguments in the two marriage cases before the Supreme Court this week.

He ended with some cogent and compelling logic born of a desire not for revenge, but simple justice.

There is a cogent argument to be made that, as wars come to a close, military requirements go down and diplomatic demands go up.

Suffice it to say there was not a lot of cogent discussion of immigration policy.

Webster Tarpley was obviously not anything like as as cogent Jon Kay.

Historical Examples

Also she would have cogent reason for keeping such a part in the affair a secret.

Considering his great distress, the reasons must have been cogent indeed.

That's the most cogent thought you ever had, but setting the date is the bride's business.

The Master was unimpeachable; His terse, cogent assertions were unanswerable.

And yet they have the broadest meaning and the most cogent application.

cogent

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for cogent

adj.

Origin of cogent