cogent

[ koh-juh nt ]

/ ˈkoʊ dʒənt /

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.

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Nearby words

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 forms

co·gent·ly, adverbnon·co·gent, adjectivenon·co·gent·ly, adverbun·co·gent, adjective

un·co·gent·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cogent

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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

Webster Tarpley was obviously not anything like as as cogent Jon Kay.
Among the Truthers (And Other Conspiracy Theorists)|David Frum|April 3, 2012|DAILY BEAST
As he is a born and bred gentleman, there are cogent reasons why he should hold a respectable position among us.
The Fatal Cord|Mayne Reid
The Master was unimpeachable; His terse, cogent assertions were unanswerable.
Jesus the Christ|James Edward Talmage
James was a verbose and ornate declaimer; Philip was a close, cogent reasoner, without any attempt at elegance or display.
The Memories of Fifty Years|William H. Sparks
Those who voted in it followed one or other of two trains of cogent reasoning; but the reasonings led to opposite conclusions.
John Redmond's Last Years|Stephen Gwynn
None of the evidence given to the Commission was more direct and cogent.
The Life of Florence Nightingale vol. 1 of 2|Edward Tyas Cook

British Dictionary definitions for cogent

cogent

/ (ˈkəʊdʒənt) /

adjective

compelling belief or assent; forcefully convincing

Derived Formscogency, nouncogently, adverb

Word Origin for cogent

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

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.)).