WordVale

Debate & Persuasion

100 words and expressions, each with a learner-friendly meaning. Tap any term for its page.

• assertto state firmly and confidently
• contendto argue or maintain a position
• refuteto prove a claim to be false
• rebutto argue against by offering opposing evidence
• concedeto admit a point in an argument
• advocateto publicly support or argue for
• disputeto argue against; to question the truth of
• counterto respond to an argument with an opposing one
• qualifyto add a limiting condition to a statement
• substantiateto provide evidence for
• undermineto weaken an argument
• corroborateto support with additional evidence
• validateto confirm the truth of
• invalidateto prove wrong or worthless
• reconcileto make two ideas compatible
• reconciliationthe restoring of agreement
• consensusgeneral agreement among a group
• dissentstrong disagreement with a view
• concurto agree
• differto hold a contrary opinion
• rhetoricthe art of persuasive speaking or writing
• polemica strong attack on an opinion
• diatribea bitter, abusive verbal attack
• tiradea long, angry speech of criticism
• discourseserious discussion of a subject
• dialoguea discussion aimed at resolving differences
• deliberationcareful consideration or discussion
• premisea proposition on which an argument is based
• hypothesisa proposed explanation to be tested
• assumptionsomething taken as true without proof
• inferencea conclusion drawn from evidence
• deductionreasoning from general to specific
• fallacya mistaken belief or flawed reasoning
• sophistryclever but misleading argument
• paradoxa seemingly contradictory but possibly true statement
• contradictiona statement opposing another
• ambiguityopenness to more than one interpretation
• nuancea subtle distinction in meaning
• caveata warning or qualification
• provisoa condition attached to an agreement
• stipulationa specified condition or requirement
• concessiona point yielded in an argument
• compromisean agreement reached by mutual concession
• mediateto intervene to settle a dispute
• arbitrateto settle a dispute as a neutral judge
• negotiateto reach agreement through discussion
• persuasivegood at convincing others
• compellingforcefully convincing
• cogentclear, logical, and convincing
• plausibleseeming reasonable
• tenuousweak or insubstantial, as an argument
• spuriousfalse or fake
• validlogically sound and well-founded
• credibleable to be believed; convincing
• dubioushesitating or doubting; questionable
• skepticalnot easily convinced; doubting
• objectivenot influenced by personal feelings
• subjectivebased on personal feelings or opinions
• biasedunfairly favoring one side
• impartialtreating all sides equally
• partisanstrongly biased toward a cause
• vindicateto clear of blame; to prove right
• exonerateto absolve from blame
• incriminateto make someone appear guilty
• implicateto show someone is involved in wrongdoing
• allegeto claim without proof
• insinuateto suggest indirectly
• implyto suggest without stating directly
• inferto deduce from evidence
• elucidateto make clear
• expoundto explain in detail
• clarifyto make more understandable
• obfuscateto make deliberately unclear
• equivocateto use ambiguous language to avoid commitment
• prevaricateto speak evasively; to avoid the truth
• digressto depart from the main topic
• belaborto argue a point at excessive length
• reiterateto repeat for emphasis
• emphasizeto give special importance to
• understateto present as less than it is
• overstateto exaggerate
• exaggerateto represent as greater than reality
• hyperboleexaggeration for effect
• euphemisma mild word replacing a harsh one
• innuendoan indirect, usually critical hint
• rebuttala counterargument
• retorta sharp, witty reply
• ripostea quick, clever response
• dissuadeto argue someone out of an action
• exhortto strongly urge to action
• imploreto beg earnestly
• entreatto ask earnestly or anxiously
• censureto express strong disapproval of
• denounceto publicly condemn
• condoneto overlook or forgive an offense
• vindicationproof that one was right
• consensus-buildingworking toward general agreement
• mootdebatable; or of no practical relevance because already resolved
• strawmana misrepresented version of an argument, set up to be easily defeated
• false dichotomypresenting only two options when more exist