dogmatic
Americanadjective
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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.
-
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
adjective
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(of a statement, opinion, etc) forcibly asserted as if authoritative and unchallengeable
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(of a person) prone to making such statements
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of, relating to, or constituting dogma
dogmatic writings
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based on assumption rather than empirical observation
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.
Vocabulary lists containing dogmatic
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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Grade 11, List 2
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "D"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
People who know Selig described him as buttoned-up and cordial, with a thoughtful rather than dogmatic approach to the legal questions around crypto and prediction markets.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 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
While reveling in the silly masquerade, “Fake It Until You Make It” interrogates the meaning of racial identity and authenticity, leaving no dogmatic position unscathed by irony.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 7, 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
She was scrappy yet willing to please, feminist yet feminine, full of rage yet friendly, articulate yet not dogmatic.
From "Genuine Fraud" by E. Lockhart
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
