dogmatic

American  

[dawg-mat-ik, dog-] / dɔgˈmæt ɪk, dɒg- /

Also dogmatical

adjective

1. relating to or of the nature of a dogma or dogmas or any strong set of principles concerning faith, morals, etc., as those laid down by a church; doctrinal.

   We hear dogmatic arguments from both sides of the political spectrum.

2. asserting opinions in a doctrinaire or arrogant manner; opinionated.

   I refuse to argue with someone so dogmatic that he won't listen to reason.

   Synonyms:

   dictatorial, imperious, arbitrary

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dogmatic British  

/ dɒɡˈmætɪk /

adjective

1. 1. (of a statement, opinion, etc) forcibly asserted as if authoritative and unchallengeable

   2. (of a person) prone to making such statements

2. of, relating to, or constituting dogma

   dogmatic writings

3. based on assumption rather than empirical observation

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Other Word Forms

• antidogmatic
  adjective
• antidogmatical
  adjective
• antidogmatically
  adverb
• dogmatically
  adverb
• dogmaticalness
  noun
• nondogmatic
  adjective
• nondogmatical
  adjective
• nondogmatically
  adverb
• overdogmatic
  adjective
• overdogmatical
  adjective
• overdogmatically
  adverb
• overdogmaticalness
  noun
• undogmatic
  adjective
• undogmatical
  adjective
• undogmatically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of dogmatic

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Late Latin dogmaticus, from Greek dogmatikós, equivalent to dogmat- (stem of dógma dogma ) + -ikos -ic

Explanation

To be dogmatic is to follow a set of rules no matter what. The rules might be religious, philosophical, or made-up, but dogmatic people would never waver in their beliefs so don’t even think of trying to change their minds. Dogmatic goes back to the Greek words dogma, which means basically “what one thinks is true” and dogmatikos, “pertaining to doctrine.” To be dogmatic is to follow a doctrine relating to morals and faith, a set of beliefs that is passed down and never questioned. It also refers to arrogant opinions based on unproven theories or even despite facts. Someone dogmatic might insist that dinosaurs never existed or that women shouldn’t drive. Dogmatic people are usually not very popular.

Example Sentences

Worse, in the context of today’s flyaway stock market, he is a principled, value-minded, dogmatic nonconformist.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

"His evidence came across more as dogmatic, than direct at times and he was uncomfortable at his evidence being challenged," she wrote.

From BBC • Sep. 2, 2025

Of course, the two of us know each other so well that it’s easy for us to anticipate what the other one is maybe chasing after, and so we’re not very dogmatic about it.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2025

A lot of those people had bands and were playing in areas that purists, like Pete Seeger and Joan Baez, who were more dogmatic about what real music is and is not.

From Salon • Dec. 25, 2024

“About what? About Freud? The one time I mentioned a Freudian theory in class, all I got out of Appleman was that dogmatic psychoanalysis was related to psychology as magic was related to science. ‘

From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok

Related Words

• arbitrary
• arrogant
• assertive
• categorical
• emphatic
• fanatical
• intolerant
• obstinate
• stubborn
• unequivocal