ad hominem
Against the person
Ad hominem describes an argument that attacks the person making a claim rather than addressing the claim itself: That's just an ad hominem—attack my argument, not my character.
From Latin meaning "to the person." The phrase functions as both adjective and adverb: an ad hominem attack, arguing ad hominem.
It names a logical fallacy, though sometimes personal credibility genuinely matters.
Destroying someone's good name
- insultOffensive remark or action
- smearSpread or defame
- name-callingHurling insults at others
- slanderSpoken false defamation
libel · defamation · vilification · denigration · disparagement · mudslinging · personal attack · discredit
Error in reasoning
- straw manFake version to demolish
- red herringIntentional misleading distraction
- non sequiturIllogical conclusion or remark
- circular reasoningFallacy assuming its conclusion
false dilemma · slippery slope · appeal to authority · hasty generalization · begging the question · post hoc · equivocation · false cause
Formal response disputing claims
- cross-examinationOpposing party questions witness
- opponentOne who contends against
- credibilityQuality inspiring trust
- refutationDisproving a statement
counterargument · rhetoric · dialectic · disputation · forensics · podium · proposition · opposition
Intentional focus manipulation
- evasionAct of escaping detection
- distractionThing diverting one's attention
- diversionRedirection of attention
- sidetrackDivert from purpose
obfuscation · smokescreen · circumlocution · irrelevance · tangential · playing the man · changing the subject
character assassination
Destroying someone's good name
- insultOffensive remark or action
- smearSpread or defame
- name-callingHurling insults at others
slander · libel · defamation · vilification · denigration · disparagement · mudslinging · personal attack · discredit · impugn
logical fallacy
Error in reasoning
- straw manFake version to demolish
- red herringIntentional misleading distraction
- non sequiturIllogical conclusion or remark
circular reasoning · false dilemma · slippery slope · appeal to authority · hasty generalization · begging the question · post hoc · equivocation · false cause · whataboutism
rebuttal
Formal response disputing claims
- cross-examinationOpposing party questions witness
- opponentOne who contends against
- credibilityQuality inspiring trust
refutation · counterargument · rhetoric · dialectic · disputation · forensics · podium · proposition · opposition · oratory
misdirection
Intentional focus manipulation
- evasionAct of escaping detection
- distractionThing diverting one's attention
- diversionRedirection of attention
sidetrack · obfuscation · smokescreen · circumlocution · irrelevance · tangential · playing the man · changing the subject
- rhetoricrhetoric, persuasion, oratory, argumentation, debate
- argument termsevidence, straw man, proof, appeal to emotion, logic
- debate tacticsexaggeration, appeal to authority, appeal to emotion, logical fallacy, straw man
- debate termsdebate, argument, logic, reasoning, counterargument
- fallaciesstraw man, red herring, circular reasoning, fallacy, slippery slope
- invectiveabuse, insult, insults, slur, vilification