sophistic

American  

[suh-fis-tik] / səˈfɪs tɪk /

Also sophistical

adjective

1. of the nature of sophistry; fallacious.

2. characteristic or suggestive of sophistry.

3. given to the use of sophistry.

4. of or relating to sophists or sophistry.

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sophistic British  

/ səˈfɪstɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to sophists or sophistry

2. consisting of sophisms or sophistry; specious

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Other Word Forms

• antisophistic adjective
• nonsophistic adjective
• nonsophistical adjective
• nonsophistically adverb
• nonsophisticalness noun
• sophistically adverb
• sophisticalness noun
• unsophistic adjective
• unsophistical adjective
• unsophistically adverb

Etymology

Origin of sophistic

1540–50; < Latin sophisticus < Greek sophistikós, equivalent to sophist ( ḗs ) ( sophist ) + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

But perhaps its sophistic victim-blaming was better left unsaid.

From Slate • Apr. 2, 2019

The presentation quickly collapses under Steve Bannon’s sophistic questioning.

From The New Yorker • Sep. 16, 2018

The characters are treated with odd touches of realism and their sophistic arguments are stingingly psychologized.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 8, 2017

For sheer sophistic jabberwocky and an excruciating reciprocity of cleverness Buckley's ideal Firing Line partner would be Marshall McLuhan.

From Time Magazine Archive

To this may further be added the negative point that he never in any of his works made Socrates define his position in regard to the sophistic treatment of the popular religion.

From Atheism in Pagan Antiquity by Andersen, Ingeborg