Argument & Persuasion

Vocabulary for reasoning, debating, and influencing

Introduction

The ability to construct arguments, evaluate claims, and persuade others is fundamental to academic and professional success. These words provide the toolkit for logical reasoning and effective communication.

This chapter covers vocabulary for argumentation and persuasion. From logical connectors to evaluative language, these words help you build stronger arguments, identify fallacies, and engage in productive debate.

Themes

All Advanced Vocabulary in This Chapter (24)

• substantiate To provide evidence or proof to support a claim, statement, or theory.
• corroborate To confirm or give support to a statement, theory, or finding by providing ad...
• assert To state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully. Also, to cause others t...
• contend To assert something as a position in an argument. Also, to compete or struggl...
• refute To prove that a statement, theory, or accusation is wrong or false by providi...
• rebut To claim or prove that evidence or an accusation is false, typically by prese...
• concede To admit that something is true or valid after first resisting or denying it....
• undermine To gradually weaken or damage something, such as a person's confidence, autho...
• contradict To deny the truth of a statement by asserting the opposite, or to be in confl...
• counterargument An argument or set of reasons put forward to oppose an idea or theory that ha...
• stipulate To demand or specify a requirement, typically as part of an agreement, contra...
• endorse To declare one's public approval or support for something or someone. Also, t...
• denounce To publicly declare that something or someone is wrong, evil, or unacceptable...
• persuasive Good at persuading someone to do or believe something through reasoning or th...
• compelling Evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way. ...
• credible Able to be believed; convincing. A credible source, witness, or threat is one...
• plausible Seeming reasonable or probable; appearing to be true or valid, though not nec...
• dubious Hesitating or doubting; not to be relied upon, or of questionable quality or ...
• tenuous Very weak or slight; barely holding together. A tenuous connection, argument,...
• robust Strong, healthy, and vigorous. When describing an argument, system, or approa...
• cogent Clear, logical, and convincing. A cogent argument is one that is well-reasone...
• lucid Expressed clearly and easy to understand. Also, showing an ability to think c...
• ambivalent Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone, bein...
• unequivocal Leaving no doubt; unambiguous and clear. An unequivocal statement or response...