strawman argument
Defeating imaginary opponent
A strawman argument is a rhetorical tactic where someone misrepresents an opponent's position to make it easier to attack.
Rather than addressing the actual argument, they construct a weaker or distorted version—a "strawman"—and knock that down instead.
That's a strawman—I never said we should ban all cars, just reduce emissions.
The term comes from the idea of a flimsy practice dummy, easier to defeat than a real opponent.
- logical fallacyError in reasoning
- fallacyError in reasoning
- logicalBased on valid reasoning
- debateFormal argument on issues
- misrepresentDepict inaccurately or falsely
distort · twist · opponent · red herring · rhetoric · deflect · scarecrow · effigy · knock down · fake · fabricate · easy target · caricature · exaggerate · manipulation · dishonest · rebuttal · counterpoint
- fallaciesred herring, circular reasoning, ad hominem, fallacy, slippery slope
strawman argumentvalid argument
Reasoning where conclusion follows necessarily
sound argument · logical argument · logical reasoning · syllogism
straw, argument, straws, strawmen, arguments, argumentation, argue, argues, argued