cogent
Clear and convincing
Cogent describes an argument or reasoning that is clear, logical, and convincing.
A cogent case compels agreement through the force of its logic rather than emotion or rhetoric: She made a cogent argument for restructuring the department.
The word implies both intellectual rigor and persuasive power—being right in a way that's hard to dismiss.
Powerfully engaging or persuasive
- convincingAble to persuade
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- eloquentFluent and persuasive
- influentialHaving considerable effect
credible · believable · forceful · powerful · potent · effective · telling · weighty
Drawing logical conclusions
- deductiveDeriving specifics from generals
- inductiveDeriving general from particular
- analyticalExamining parts methodically
- validityQuality of being sound
inference · argumentation · rationale · premise · proposition · syllogism · proof · soundness
Mentally sharp and comprehensible
- articulateExpress clearly, or well-spoken
- intelligibleCapable of being understood
- comprehensibleAble to be understood
- unambiguousAllowing single interpretation only
explicit · precise · straightforward · transparent · crystalline · pellucid · incisive · sharp
Practically clever, perceptive
- perceptiveQuick to understand
- insightfulHaving penetrating discernment
- discerningHaving keen judgment
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
keen · incisive · sagacious · judicious · wise · thoughtful · reasoned · considered
compelling
Powerfully engaging or persuasive
- convincingAble to persuade
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- eloquentFluent and persuasive
influential · credible · believable · forceful · powerful · potent · effective · telling · weighty · authoritative
reasoning
Drawing logical conclusions
- deductiveDeriving specifics from generals
- inductiveDeriving general from particular
- analyticalExamining parts methodically
validity · inference · argumentation · rationale · premise · proposition · syllogism · proof · soundness · rigor
lucid
Mentally sharp and comprehensible
- articulateExpress clearly, or well-spoken
- intelligibleCapable of being understood
- comprehensibleAble to be understood
unambiguous · explicit · precise · straightforward · transparent · crystalline · pellucid · incisive · sharp · pointed
shrewd
Practically clever, perceptive
- perceptiveQuick to understand
- insightfulHaving penetrating discernment
- discerningHaving keen judgment
sharp · keen · incisive · sagacious · judicious · wise · thoughtful · reasoned · considered · apt
- rational thinkinglogic, reason, analytical, deductive, objective
- logical thinkinglogical, rational, analytical, deductive, inferential
- persuasionpersuade, persuasion, persuasive, convince, convincing
- logic termsif, then, valid, premises, and
- validityvalid, invalid, true, false, correct
cogentunsound
Weak or flawed
fallacious · invalid · illogical · groundless · unfounded
cogentunconvincing
Not able to persuade
unpersuasive · uncompelling · ineffective · weak · feeble
cogentrambling
Long-winded and unfocused
incoherent · muddled · disjointed · confused · scattered