devil's advocate
Deliberate opposing voice
A devil's advocate argues a position they don't necessarily hold, typically to test an idea or provoke debate: Let me play devil's advocate here—what if we're wrong about this?
The role originated in Catholic canonization proceedings, where someone was appointed to argue against sainthood.
Now it describes anyone who takes the opposing side for the sake of argument rather than conviction.
Point challenging another's position
- rebuttalFormal response disputing claims
- objectionExpression of disapproval
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- critiqueDetailed evaluative analysis
dissent · disputation · cross-examination · scrutiny · contention · polemic · dialectic · rhetoric
Assumed but unproven
- scenarioPostulated event sequence
- positionLocation or stance
- stanceStanding posture or viewpoint
- perspectiveAttitude or spatial rendering
proxy · simulation · pretense · exercise · strategy · tactic · foil · interlocutor
Lack of firm belief
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
- incredulityInability to accept something
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
distrust · reservation · misgivings · uncertainty · critical thinking · probing · interrogation · examination
Test of ability
- stimulusWhat prompts a reaction
- spurIncentive or heel device
- impetusForce initiating action
- catalystAgent enabling change
instigation · goad · prod · prompt · incitement · agitation · disruption · pushback
counterargument
Point challenging another's position
- rebuttalFormal response disputing claims
- objectionExpression of disapproval
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
critique · dissent · disputation · cross-examination · scrutiny · contention · polemic · dialectic · rhetoric · reasoning
hypothetical
Assumed but unproven
perspective · proxy · simulation · pretense · exercise · strategy · tactic · foil · interlocutor · challenger
doubt
Lack of firm belief
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
- incredulityInability to accept something
suspicion · distrust · reservation · misgivings · uncertainty · critical thinking · probing · interrogation · examination · analysis
challenge
Test of ability
catalyst · instigation · goad · prod · prompt · incitement · agitation · disruption · pushback
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
- debate tacticsexaggeration, appeal to authority, appeal to emotion, logical fallacy, straw man
- sainthoodcanonization, saint, beatification, sainthood, patron saints
- arguersarguer, debater, disputant, disputer, quarreler
- contrarianscontrarian, dissenter, naysayer, skeptic, doubter
- archetypeshero, villain, trickster, mentor, mother
devil's advocatetrue believer
Completely committed adherent
yes-man · sycophant · toady · cheerleader · rubber stamp
devil's advocatetrue believer
Completely committed adherent
zealot · ideologue · partisan · die-hard · fundamentalist
devil's advocatesycophant
Servile praise-giver
yes-man · toady · flatterer · bootlicker · brown-noser
devil, advocate, devilish, devils, advocacy, advocates, devilry, diabolical, deviled