polemic

noun

po·lem·ic pə-ˈle-mik How to pronounce polemic (audio)

: an aggressive attack on or refutation of the opinions or principles of another

: the art or practice of disputation or controversy

—usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction

: an aggressive controversialist : disputant

polemicist

pə-ˈle-mə-sist How to pronounce polemic (audio)

noun

Did you know?

When polemic was borrowed into English from French polemique in the mid-17th century, it referred (as it still can) to a type of hostile attack on someone's ideas. The word traces back to Greek polemikos, which means "warlike" or "hostile" and in turn comes from the Greek noun polemos, meaning "war." Other, considerably less common descendants of polemos in English include polemarch ("a chieftain or military commander in ancient Greece"), polemoscope (a kind of binoculars with an oblique mirror), and polemology ("the study of war").

Example Sentences

Her book is a fierce polemic against the inequalities in our society. They managed to discuss the issues without resorting to polemics.

Recent Examples on the Web But his polemic persona can be polarizing and alienate some voters working to preserve the height limit, particularly Democratic activists who openly loathe DeMaio.

Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 Allen Iverson would launch another polemic against that notion.

Christopher L. Gasper, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Aug. 2022 No, that doesn’t make Carrie’s story feel dated or read like a polemic.

Carol Memmott, Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2022 This led to the famous polemic in The Spectator in January in 1964 by Iain Macleod, a senior Tory who had declined to serve under Sir Alec Douglas-Home, as Home had become known after renouncing his peerage.

Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The New Republic, 9 Aug. 2022 Evans’s work sidesteps both polemic and propaganda.

Garth Greenwell, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2022 Win at All Costs is, in effect, a 350-page polemic which argues that the NOP’s transgressions are consistent with a ruthless Nike ethos where the ends always justify the means.

Martin Fritz Huber, Outside Online, 2 Oct. 2020 Such falsehoods aside, the most interesting aspect of Lavrov's polemic relates to his throwaway comments about Zelensky.

Anthony D. Kauders, CNN, 5 May 2022 In her barnstorming environmental polemic Silent Spring, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, Rachel Carson fired a broadside against the unfettered use of chemicals by agricultural giants.

Shely Aronov, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2022 See More

单词	polemicist
释义	polemic noun po·lem·ic pə-ˈle-mik 1 a : an aggressive attack on or refutation of the opinions or principles of another b : the art or practice of disputation or controversy —usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction 2 : an aggressive controversialist : disputant polemicist pə-ˈle-mə-sist noun Did you know? When polemic was borrowed into English from French polemique in the mid-17th century, it referred (as it still can) to a type of hostile attack on someone's ideas. The word traces back to Greek polemikos, which means "warlike" or "hostile" and in turn comes from the Greek noun polemos, meaning "war." Other, considerably less common descendants of polemos in English include polemarch ("a chieftain or military commander in ancient Greece"), polemoscope (a kind of binoculars with an oblique mirror), and polemology ("the study of war"). Example Sentences Her book is a fierce polemic against the inequalities in our society. They managed to discuss the issues without resorting to polemics. Recent Examples on the Web But his polemic persona can be polarizing and alienate some voters working to preserve the height limit, particularly Democratic activists who openly loathe DeMaio. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 Allen Iverson would launch another polemic against that notion. Christopher L. Gasper, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Aug. 2022 No, that doesn’t make Carrie’s story feel dated or read like a polemic. Carol Memmott, Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2022 This led to the famous polemic in The Spectator in January in 1964 by Iain Macleod, a senior Tory who had declined to serve under Sir Alec Douglas-Home, as Home had become known after renouncing his peerage. Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The New Republic, 9 Aug. 2022 Evans’s work sidesteps both polemic and propaganda. Garth Greenwell, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2022 Win at All Costs is, in effect, a 350-page polemic which argues that the NOP’s transgressions are consistent with a ruthless Nike ethos where the ends always justify the means. Martin Fritz Huber, Outside Online, 2 Oct. 2020 Such falsehoods aside, the most interesting aspect of Lavrov's polemic relates to his throwaway comments about Zelensky. Anthony D. Kauders, CNN, 5 May 2022 In her barnstorming environmental polemic Silent Spring, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, Rachel Carson fired a broadside against the unfettered use of chemicals by agricultural giants. Shely Aronov, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2022 See More Word History Etymology French polémique, from Middle French, from polemique controversial, from Greek polemikos warlike, hostile, from polemos war; perhaps akin to Greek pelemizein to shake, Old English ealfelo baleful First Known Use 1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1a polemicist noun as in polemist Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance polemist mudslinger attack dog hired gun barracuda hit man hatchet man shark
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polemic

noun

Did you know?

Example Sentences

Word History

noun