Debate Terminology

noun a word (other than a pronoun) used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things

adjective a word naming an attribute of a noun, such as sweet, red, or technical

adverb a word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause

conjunction a word used to connect clauses or sentences or to coordinate words in the same clause

article a word that is used with a noun to indicate the type of reference being made by the noun

• All things considered, the company made a wise decision to invest in new technology.
• All things considered, I think we should go with the blue paint for the living room.
• All things considered, I say we just chill and watch some movies tonight.
• All things considered, life is like a puzzle where every piece has its place.

noun the branch of theology concerned with the defense or proof of Christianity

• The study of apologetics involves defending the faith through logical arguments.
• I've been reading up on apologetics to better understand my beliefs.
• Apologetics may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's important for some people.
• In the realm of intellectual debates, apologetics serves as a powerful tool for persuasion.

verb to give reasons or cite evidence in support of an idea, action, or theory, typically with the aim of persuading others to share one's view

• The lawyers will argue their case in court tomorrow.
• I heard Sarah and Tom arguing about politics at the party last night.
• Why are you always arguing with me about everything?
• The two sides of my conscience constantly argue over what is right and wrong.

noun a logical fallacy in which a statement or claim is assumed to be true without evidence or proof

verb to assume the truth of an argument or proposition that is yet to be proved

preposition used in the phrase 'beg the question' to indicate the action of assuming something to be true without evidence

• The argument presented by the speaker seems to beg the question of whether the data is reliable.
• I don't mean to beg the question, but are you sure you have all the facts straight?
• Dude, that totally begs the question - do you even know what you're talking about?
• Her actions beg the question of whether she truly values our friendship.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• The discussion about the budget is beside the point when we are talking about the overall strategy.
• Arguing about who was at fault is beside the point now that the problem has been resolved.
• Who cares about the details, that's beside the point!
• Her criticisms were beside the point, as they did not address the main issue at hand.

conjunction a word used to introduce a phrase or clause contrasting with what has already been mentioned

• The experiment yielded promising results, but further research is needed to confirm the findings.
• I really want to go to the concert, but I have to finish my homework first.
• I was planning on going out tonight, but my parents are being total buzzkills.
• She wanted to trust him, but her heart kept reminding her of past betrayals.

verb To intrude or interrupt a conversation or situation without being invited or needed.

preposition To insert oneself into a conversation or situation in an intrusive or unwelcome manner.

• It is considered impolite to butt in on someone else's conversation.
• Hey, don't butt in when I'm talking to my friend!
• Stop butting in, you're being annoying.
• The new manager likes to butt in and micromanage everything.

noun a trivial objection or criticism

verb to make petty or unnecessary objections

• He would always find something to cavil about, no matter how well the project was executed.
• Stop caviling and just enjoy the movie.
• Why do you always have to cavil over every little thing?
• Her constant caviling was like a dark cloud hanging over the family gathering.

verb to struggle in opposition or against difficulties; to strive in rivalry; to assert or maintain earnestly

• The two candidates will contend for the position of mayor in the upcoming election.
• The teams will have to contend for the championship title in the final match.
• I heard those two are going to contend for the last piece of pizza.
• She had to contend for her place in the male-dominated industry.

noun a heated disagreement or argument

adjective pertaining to contention or causing contention

• The main contention in the debate was whether the new policy would be beneficial for the economy.
• The contention between the two friends arose when they couldn't agree on where to go for dinner.
• I can't believe there's still contention over who ate the last slice of pizza.
• The contention between the two political parties was like a fierce battle for power.

noun a person who takes part in a contest or competition

• The contestant answered all the questions correctly during the quiz show.
• The contestant nailed every question on the game show.
• That contestant totally crushed the competition.
• The contestant was a shining star among the other participants.

noun a state or quality of being contrary; opposition or resistance

adjective contrary or opposite in nature, direction, or meaning

• The contrariety between their political beliefs led to many heated debates.
• Their contrariety on the issue caused a lot of tension in the group.
• Their contrariety was like oil and water, they just couldn't get along.
• The contrariety of their personalities created a stormy relationship.

adjective serving to convince or persuade; persuasive

• The lawyer presented convincing evidence to the jury.
• She made a convincing argument for why we should go to the beach.
• I gotta say, that movie was hella convincing.
• Her smile was so convincing, it could light up a room.

noun A person who engages in formal argumentation or debate

• The debater presented a well-structured argument during the debate competition.
• The debater totally nailed their argument in the debate.
• That debater really slayed the debate with their points.
• The debater wielded their words like a skilled swordsman in the debate.

noun a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something

• The professor went on a lengthy diatribe about the flaws in the research methodology.
• My friend always goes off on a diatribe whenever politics is brought up.
• I can't stand listening to his diatribe about the new video game.
• Her diatribe against modern technology was like a storm of criticism.

verb to have or express a different opinion; to not be in agreement

• The two parties were vehemently disagreeing on the terms of the contract.
• They were constantly disagreeing about which movie to watch.
• They were beefing hard, always disagreeing on everything.
• Their opinions were like oil and water, constantly disagreeing with each other.

noun a lack of agreement or harmony; a difference of opinion

adjective disagreeing or characterized by disagreement

• The board members had a disagreement over the proposed budget cuts.
• We had a little disagreement about which movie to watch.
• Me and my friend got into a big disagreement about who won the game.
• Their relationship hit a rough patch due to constant disagreement on major decisions.

noun a conversation or debate about a certain topic

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• The panelists engaged in a thoughtful discussion on the implications of the new policy.
• We had a good discussion about our upcoming vacation plans.
• Let's have a quick discussion about where to eat for lunch.
• The artist's use of color sparked a lively discussion among art critics.

adjective capable of being disputed or argued about

• The scientific evidence presented makes the hypothesis disputable.
• There's a lot of back and forth on this issue, it's pretty disputable.
• Honestly, that claim is so sketchy, it's totally disputable.
• Her version of events is so twisted, it's highly disputable.

adjective free from doubt; certain

adverb without doubt; certainly

• The evidence presented in the case is doubtless and irrefutable.
• I'm doubtless going to ace this exam with all the studying I've done.
• She's doubtless the coolest person in our group.
• His dedication to his craft is doubtless a key factor in his success.

verb to express strong disapproval or disagreement; to argue or reason with someone in order to dissuade or correct them

• The lawyer began to expostulate with the judge about the unfair ruling.
• She always expostulates with her parents when she doesn't get her way.
• I heard him expostulate with his boss after being passed over for a promotion.
• The artist used his painting to expostulate against social injustice.

noun the action or practice of making fine distinctions unnecessarily

adjective characterized by excessive attention to minor details

• The lawyer's hairsplitting arguments in court helped secure a favorable outcome for his client.
• Stop with the hairsplitting and just tell me what you want for dinner.
• I can't stand all this hairsplitting over such a small detail.
• His hairsplitting approach to problem-solving often leads to unnecessary complications.

adverb used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or seems to contradict something that has been said previously

• The research shows promising results; however, further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
• I really want to go to the concert; however, I have a lot of homework to do.
• I was going to go out with my friends tonight; however, I'm feeling lazy and just want to stay in.
• She wanted to trust him again; however, the wounds from the past were still too fresh.

adjective An adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. In this case, 'illogical' describes something that lacks logic or reason.

• The conclusion drawn by the researcher seems completely illogical based on the data presented.
• It's so illogical to think that she would agree to that proposal after everything that happened.
• That plan is totally illogical - there's no way it's going to work out.
• Her decision to quit her job without having another one lined up seemed illogical at first, but it ended up being the best move she ever made.

adjective not able to be convinced or persuaded; stubbornly resistant to change

• Despite presenting overwhelming evidence, he remained invincible in his beliefs.
• No matter what I say, she's inconvincible about her favorite singer.
• He's so inconvincible, it's like talking to a brick wall.
• Her inconvincible nature was like trying to change the direction of a river.

adjective not justifiable; inexcusable; unable to be defended

• The lawyer argued that the defendant's actions were indefensible in court.
• There is no way to defend what he did, it's just indefensible.
• That was totally indefensible, no excuses for that behavior.
• His decision to leave his family behind was seen as indefensible by his loved ones.

adverb in a manner that is not open to doubt or question; unquestionably

• The evidence presented in the case is indubitably compelling.
• She is indubitably the best candidate for the job.
• That movie was indubitably lit!
• His love for her was indubitably as deep as the ocean.

noun a remark or comment that interrupts a conversation

verb to interrupt a conversation with a remark or comment

• The professor asked the students not to interject during the lecture.
• Feel free to interject if you have any questions or comments.
• I wanted to interject, but I didn't want to interrupt the conversation.
• The sudden rainstorm seemed to interject itself into our picnic plans.

noun a word or phrase that is spoken or written at the end of a conversation or discussion

adjective coming after all others in time or order; final

article a word that is used with a noun to specify grammatical definiteness of the noun

• The speaker concluded his speech with a powerful last word.
• Don't worry, I'll have the last word in this argument.
• I always make sure to get the last word in during a debate.
• She always has the last word in our family discussions.

adjective describing someone who is quick and clever in thinking or understanding

• He was known for being nimble-witted, always quick to come up with clever solutions.
• She's so nimble-witted, she can outsmart anyone in a debate.
• That guy is nimble-witted AF, he can talk his way out of any situation.
• Her nimble-witted mind worked like a well-oiled machine, constantly churning out creative ideas.

adjective showing a bias or partiality toward one particular side or viewpoint

• The debate was very one sided, with one candidate clearly dominating the discussion.
• The basketball game was so one sided, it was almost boring to watch.
• The argument was totally one sided, she didn't even let him get a word in.
• Their relationship was very one sided, with one person always giving and the other always taking.

noun a belief or judgment that is not necessarily based on fact

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• In my opinion, the company's decision to expand internationally was a smart move.
• I think the new restaurant in town is really good, but that's just my opinion.
• Honestly, I don't really care about his opinion on the matter.
• Her opinion was like a ray of sunshine in a room full of clouds.

verb to speak at length or in a formal manner, especially in a way that is pompous or tedious

• The speaker began to perorate on the importance of education in his closing remarks.
• He loves to perorate about politics, but no one really listens to him.
• She always perorates about her favorite TV show like she's an expert.
• The artist's painting seemed to perorate a sense of peace and tranquility.

noun the concluding part of a speech, typically intended to inspire enthusiasm in the audience

• The speaker ended his speech with a powerful peroration that left the audience in awe.
• The teacher's peroration at the end of class was really inspiring.
• I couldn't believe the peroration he gave at the party last night, it was so epic.
• Her peroration on the importance of kindness was like a soothing balm for the soul.

noun a purpose or aim

verb to score points in a game or competition

adjective significant or important

adverb exactly or precisely

preposition at or to a particular place or position

conjunction used to introduce a further statement or reason

interjection used to emphasize a point

• At this point in time, we need to make a decision.
• I'm not sure what the point of this meeting is.
• Why are we even doing this? What's the point?
• She made a good point during the debate.

noun a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something

adjective involving strongly critical, controversial, or disputatious writing or speech

• The author's latest book is a polemic against the current political system.
• I heard there was a big polemic at the town hall meeting last night.
• The debate turned into a real polemic, with people shouting and throwing insults.
• Her artwork was seen as a polemic against traditional beauty standards.

adjective relating to or involving strongly critical, controversial, or disputatious writing or speech

• The author's polemical writing style sparked a heated debate among scholars.
• His polemical rant on social media caused quite a stir.
• She always gets into polemical arguments with her classmates.
• The politician's polemical speech was like a verbal boxing match.

noun a written document that presents a position or viewpoint on a particular issue or topic

• The committee members presented their well-researched position paper on climate change.
• We need to work on our position paper for the project presentation.
• I totally aced my position paper on legalizing marijuana.
• His position paper on leadership was like a guiding light for the team.

noun the act of predestining or the condition of being predestined

• The concept of predestination has been a topic of debate among theologians for centuries.
• Some people believe in predestination, thinking that everything is already predetermined.
• I don't buy into that whole predestination thing, I think we make our own destiny.
• Her success seemed like predestination, as if it was always meant to be.

verb to prove a statement or theory to be wrong or false by argument or evidence

• The scientist presented a well-researched paper refuting the previous theory.
• She spent hours refuting his arguments during the debate.
• I totally shut him down by refuting his claims with evidence.
• Her success in the competition was like refuting all doubts and obstacles in her path.

noun a sharp, angry, or wittily incisive reply to a remark or accusation

verb to make a sharp, angry, or wittily incisive reply

• She quickly formulated a retort to his argument, presenting her counterpoints with precision.
• When he made a snarky comment, she had the perfect retort ready to shut him down.
• He tried to insult her, but she hit him back with a savage retort.
• His actions spoke louder than any retort she could have come up with.

noun A person who is skilled in the art of rhetoric; an expert in public speaking or writing

• The renowned rhetorician delivered a compelling speech at the conference.
• I heard that the rhetorician is giving a talk at the event tonight.
• That rhetorician really knows how to spin a story to make it sound good.
• As a rhetorician of emotions, he knew exactly how to manipulate the crowd's feelings.

noun a statement that contradicts itself or itself refutes a statement

adjective describing something that is contradictory within itself

• The philosopher pointed out the self-contradiction in the politician's argument.
• I can't believe the self-contradiction in what she just said.
• It's so funny when people don't realize their own self-contradictions.
• Her actions were a self-contradiction of her stated beliefs.

adjective capable of being maintained or defended; able to be upheld or justified

• The argument put forth by the researchers is tenable based on the evidence provided.
• I think his excuse for being late is pretty tenable, don't you?
• I don't think that excuse is very tenable, if you ask me.
• The foundation of their relationship is no longer tenable.

adjective Trenchant is an adjective that means vigorous or incisive in expression or style.

• The author's trenchant critique of the government policies sparked a heated debate.
• She always has a trenchant opinion on current events.
• His trenchant remarks really hit the nail on the head.
• The trenchant sword of justice cut through the lies and revealed the truth.

adjective not able to persuade or convince; lacking in credibility or persuasiveness

• The evidence presented by the defense was unconvincing to the jury.
• I found his excuse for being late very unconvincing.
• Her story about why she couldn't come to the party was totally unconvincing.
• The actor's performance in the play was unconvincing, lacking the emotion needed to truly captivate the audience.

adjective not able to be persuaded or convinced

• Despite presenting all the evidence, he remained unpersuadable on the matter.
• No matter how much I tried to convince her, she was unpersuadable.
• She's totally unpersuadable, no point in even trying.
• His mind was like a fortress, completely unpersuadable.

adjective not open to question or doubt; undisputed

• The scientist's unquestioned expertise in the field led to groundbreaking discoveries.
• Her unquestioned dedication to her work is truly inspiring.
• His unquestioned skills on the basketball court make him a top player.
• The artist's unquestioned talent shines through in every brushstroke.

noun lack of reason or good sense; irrationality

• The decision to cut funding for the program was met with unreason by the stakeholders.
• I can't believe the unreason behind their refusal to compromise.
• It's pure unreason to think you can get away with cheating on the test.
• His unreason was like a dark cloud that overshadowed every discussion we had.

adjective An adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. In this case, 'unrefutable' is an adjective that means impossible to refute or disprove.

• The evidence presented by the prosecution is unrefutable and clearly proves the defendant's guilt.
• There's unrefutable proof that she was the one who ate the last cookie.
• No way he can deny it, the video evidence is unrefutable.
• Her love for him was unrefutable, like a force of nature that couldn't be denied.

adjective An adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. In this case, 'unrefuted' describes something that has not been proven wrong or disputed.

• The scientist presented an unrefuted theory that challenged existing beliefs.
• No one has been able to disprove his argument, it's unrefuted.
• His claim remains unrefuted, no one has been able to prove him wrong.
• Her reputation for honesty is unrefuted, no one has ever questioned her integrity.

adjective a word that describes or gives more information about a noun or pronoun, in this case 'unsupportable' describes something that cannot be supported

• The argument presented by the lawyer was deemed unsupportable by the judge.
• His excuse for being late was completely unsupportable.
• That theory is totally unsupportable, dude.
• The weight of her responsibilities felt unsupportable at times.

adjective not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection

• The current economic situation is untenable and requires immediate intervention.
• Living with roommates who never clean up after themselves is just untenable.
• I can't believe you're still dating that guy, it's totally untenable.
• The tension between the two countries has reached an untenable level, threatening to boil over into conflict.

noun intense passion or emotion

adjective vehement

• The speaker argued with great vehemence during the debate.
• She expressed her opinions with so much vehemence, it was hard to ignore.
• His vehemence in defending his favorite sports team was off the charts.
• The storm raged with such vehemence, it felt like nature's fury unleashed.

adjective Characterized by or given to harsh, abusive language

• The politician's vituperative remarks towards his opponent were widely criticized.
• I can't believe how vituperative she was during the argument.
• Her vituperative rant was totally uncalled for.
• The vituperative storm of insults left him feeling emotionally battered.

adjective Vociferous is an adjective that describes someone or something that is loud, vocal, and outspoken.

• The vociferous crowd demanded answers from the government officials.
• She's always so vociferous about her opinions, isn't she?
• The fans were super vociferous at the concert last night.
• The storm outside was vociferous, as if nature itself was shouting.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun

article a word that specifies a noun as definite or indefinite (e.g., 'the', 'a', 'an')

• The American Rule is a legal principle that each party in a lawsuit is responsible for paying their own attorney's fees.
• I just found out about the American Rule - it means you have to pay your own lawyer no matter what.
• Yo, did you hear about the American Rule? It's like, you gotta cover your own legal fees, man.
• In life, it sometimes feels like we're all playing by the American Rule - everyone has to handle their own challenges and expenses.

verb to argue against or refute a previous argument

• It is important to anticipate and counterargue potential objections in your research paper.
• When you're discussing politics with your friends, make sure to counterargue any points you disagree with.
• I always have to come up with a way to counterargue my sister's excuses.
• In a debate, it's like a game of chess - you have to strategically counterargue your opponent's moves.

noun a statement or argument made in opposition to another

adjective pertaining to or involving a counterargument

• It is important to consider the counterargument in order to present a well-rounded argument.
• Hey, have you thought about the counterargument to your point?
• Dude, what about the counterargument though?
• Just like a chess player must anticipate their opponent's moves, a debater must anticipate the counterargument.

noun a term used to describe the act of selectively choosing the most extreme or unrepresentative examples to criticize or argue against

• Nutpicking is a logical fallacy where a few extreme examples are used to discredit an entire group.
• Stop nutpicking and focus on the main argument.
• Don't be such a nutpicker, just accept the facts.
• His habit of nutpicking in debates only weakens his position.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being

adverb a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb, often providing information about time, manner, place, or degree

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

article a word that specifies a noun as definite or indefinite (e.g. 'the', 'a', 'an')

• During the meeting, the chairman will hold the floor to address the important issues.
• I'll hold the floor at the party and share some interesting stories with everyone.
• Let me hold the floor during the presentation and show them what I've got.
• Her powerful speech held the floor and captivated the audience.

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun, in this case, 'well-reasoned' describes something that is thought out or logical

• The judge appreciated the well-reasoned arguments presented by the defense attorney.
• I always enjoy listening to well-reasoned opinions during debates.
• Her explanation was so well-reasoned, it totally made sense.
• His decision to invest in that company was well-reasoned, like a carefully crafted puzzle coming together.

noun a speech or argument made in anticipation of an opposing argument or criticism

• The politician delivered a prebuttal to the opponent's upcoming speech.
• She gave a prebuttal to his argument before he even made it.
• He totally shut down their points with his prebuttal.
• Her prebuttal was like a preemptive strike in the debate.

noun a sharp exchange of words or criticisms between two or more people

• During the debate, the two politicians continued to trade barbs about each other's policies.
• The siblings always trade barbs whenever they get together for family gatherings.
• The players on the opposing teams love to trade barbs on the field.
• The comedians on the show are known for their ability to trade barbs in a friendly and entertaining manner.

verb to reach or arrive at a particular point or decision

pronoun refers to a specific point or topic being discussed

preposition used to introduce a further statement or a rephrasing of a previous one

• When we come to that part of the presentation, we will discuss the financial projections in detail.
• Let's talk about that when we come to that section of the meeting.
• We'll get to that when we come to that, no rush.
• As we navigate through the project, we will eventually come to that crossroads and have to make a decision.

adjective relating to the art or practice of public speaking

• The oratorical skills of the speaker captivated the audience during the conference.
• His oratorical prowess really impressed everyone at the party.
• The rapper's oratorical flow on stage was fire!
• Her oratorical style was like a symphony, each word a note in a beautiful composition.

noun a word that refers to a person, place, thing, event, substance, or quality

verb a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence

• As a neutral party, we have no dog in this fight and will remain impartial.
• I don't have a dog in this fight, so I'm staying out of it.
• I ain't got no dog in this fight, so I'm not getting involved.
• Since I don't have a personal stake in this matter, I have no dog in this fight.

noun A person who draws conclusions based on evidence or reasoning

• The conclusionist in the research team was responsible for analyzing all the data and drawing final conclusions.
• My friend likes to call himself a conclusionist because he always has a strong opinion on everything.
• I don't trust that conclusionist, he always jumps to conclusions without considering all the facts.
• She was a conclusionist in matters of the heart, always quick to decide if someone was worth her time or not.

noun A person who is in favor of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union, often associated with the Brexit movement

• The Brexiteer argued passionately for the UK's withdrawal from the European Union.
• The Brexiteer is convinced that leaving the EU was the right decision.
• That Brexiteer is always going on about how Brexit will make everything better.
• The Brexiteer sees leaving the EU as breaking free from oppressive chains.

adjective describing something that is not relevant to the current subject or discussion

• Please refrain from discussing off-topic subjects during the meeting.
• Let's try to stay on track and avoid going off-topic.
• Let's keep it on point and not get off-topic.
• Don't stray off the path of the main discussion, let's avoid being off-topic.

noun a Latin phrase that means 'to the person' and is used to describe an argument that attacks a person's character or traits instead of focusing on the issue at hand

• It is important to avoid making ad hominem attacks during a debate.
• Don't resort to ad hominem arguments when discussing politics with your friends.
• He always gets so defensive and starts with the ad hominem insults.
• Using ad hominem attacks is like fighting dirty in an argument.

adjective serving to express opposition or contrast

• The adversative conjunction 'however' is commonly used to introduce contrasting ideas in academic writing.
• I don't like mushrooms; however, I still eat them because they're good for me.
• I wanted to go out with my friends, but my mom said no way.
• Life is full of adversative moments, but they only make us stronger in the end.

adverb in a manner that shows opposition or contrast

• The researcher presented the findings of the study adversatively, highlighting the limitations of the methodology.
• She argued with her friend adversatively, pointing out the flaws in their plan.
• He debated his opponent adversatively, shutting down their arguments with ease.
• The storm raged on adversatively, causing chaos and destruction in its path.