dogmatic

adjective

dog·​mat·​ic dȯg-ˈma-tik How to pronounce dogmatic (audio)
däg-
variants or less commonly dogmatical
1
: characterized by or given to the expression of opinions very strongly or positively as if they were facts
a dogmatic critic
2
: of or relating to dogma (see dogma)
dogmatically adverb
dogmaticalness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for dogmatic

dictatorial, magisterial, dogmatic, doctrinaire, oracular mean imposing one's will or opinions on others.

dictatorial stresses autocratic, high-handed methods and a domineering manner.

exercised dictatorial control over the office

magisterial stresses assumption or use of prerogatives appropriate to a magistrate or schoolmaster in forcing acceptance of one's opinions.

the magisterial tone of his pronouncements

dogmatic implies being unduly and offensively positive in laying down principles and expressing opinions.

dogmatic about what is art and what is not

doctrinaire implies a disposition to follow abstract theories in framing laws or policies affecting people.

a doctrinaire approach to improving the economy

oracular implies the manner of one who delivers opinions in cryptic phrases or with pompous dogmatism.

a designer who is the oracular voice of fashion

Examples of dogmatic in a Sentence

What we are being treated to, clearly, is an extended set of variations on that most ancient of all intellectual chestnuts, the infinite capacity of the professorial mind for the dogmatic and ludicrous misinterpretation of evidence regarding past civilizations. Peter Green, New Republic, 20 Mar. 2000
The New York Times, dogmatic as always, claimed that "facts and reason, the authority of all dictionaries, and the support of every chronologer and historian that ever lived, to say nothing of the invariable understanding and custom of all lands and ages" underlay its choice of 1901. It spoke dismissively of "the delusion that there is a controversy as to when the twentieth century begins," even as the controversy dragged on in its pages for a year and a half. Frederic D. Schwarz, American Heritage, December 1999
After absorbing one magazine's strict injunctions on such topics as the number of saucepans to register for and which varieties of flowers hold up best in bouquets, I would move on to another mag, only to find an equal number of equally dogmatic assertions, delivered with equal certainty and often in complete contradiction with the first set. Ruth Halikman, New Republic, 18 Oct. 1999
She's become so dogmatic lately that arguing with her is pointless. a critic's dogmatic insistence that abstract expressionism is the only school of 20th century art worthy of serious study
Recent Examples on the Web Leigh Silverman directs a rigorously unspectacular production, with an almost dogmatic refusal to add any Broadway razzle. Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2024 But the tone of the nascent tech industry in that era was less dogmatic and maximalist. Byalexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 25 Sep. 2024 But under British influence, increasingly conservative laws intertwined with conservative forms of local dogmatic expressions of religion, resulting in the strict separation of the genders. Sara Raza, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2024 Instead of taking a dogmatic or sensationalist stance, the SETI project takes a scientifically rigorous and pragmatic approach—putting the best possible mechanisms in place for the definition, detection, and interpretation of signs of possible alien intelligence. Edmon Begoli, IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for dogmatic 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dogmatic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see dogma

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dogmatic was in 1681

Dictionary Entries Near dogmatic

Cite this Entry

“Dogmatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dogmatic. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

dogmatic

adjective
dog·​mat·​ic dȯg-ˈmat-ik How to pronounce dogmatic (audio)
däg-
1
: expressing opinions very strongly or positively as if they were facts
2
: of or relating to dogma
dogmatically adverb

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