as in logic
formal
a formal argument that is formed by two statements and a conclusion which must be true if the two statements are true
An example of a syllogism is: "All men are human; all humans are mortal; therefore all men are mortal."
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Recent Examples of syllogism
This syllogism is embraced by many Democrats, who are determined to recapture an industrial working-class base, and many Republicans, who use it as evidence that the government has sold out American workers in the heartland.
—
Adam S. Posen, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
The syllogism works only with two premises and a conclusion.
—The Lost Women Of Science Initiative, Scientific American, 30 Nov. 2023
The ability to count indefinitely beyond fingers or body parts; to read, write, store, and learn ideas through text; the tendency to reason abstractly with syllogisms and enthymemes and approximations of formal logic – all were tools for thinking that were culturally created and then transmitted.
—Michael Muthukrishna, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2023
Realizing Santa wasn't real made the syllogism obvious.
—Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 31 Dec. 2010
Twitter users often accept a flawed syllogism by using a conclusion as one of the premises – namely, that the platform spreads truthful information.
—Aaron Duncan, The Conversation, 29 Oct. 2020
Chairman Xi will undoubtedly want to prevent this syllogism from presenting itself to the minds of Chinese Christians.
—Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 1 Oct. 2020
The syllogism runs something like this: Jews, regardless of their American citizenship, owe loyalty to Israel.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2019
For Whom the Bell Tolls illustrate this trite syllogism.
—David Pryce-Jones, National Review, 22 Aug. 2019
Adam S. Posen, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
The syllogism works only with two premises and a conclusion.
—The Lost Women Of Science Initiative, Scientific American, 30 Nov. 2023
The ability to count indefinitely beyond fingers or body parts; to read, write, store, and learn ideas through text; the tendency to reason abstractly with syllogisms and enthymemes and approximations of formal logic – all were tools for thinking that were culturally created and then transmitted.
—Michael Muthukrishna, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2023
Realizing Santa wasn't real made the syllogism obvious.
—Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 31 Dec. 2010
Twitter users often accept a flawed syllogism by using a conclusion as one of the premises – namely, that the platform spreads truthful information.
—Aaron Duncan, The Conversation, 29 Oct. 2020
Chairman Xi will undoubtedly want to prevent this syllogism from presenting itself to the minds of Chinese Christians.
—Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 1 Oct. 2020
The syllogism runs something like this: Jews, regardless of their American citizenship, owe loyalty to Israel.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2019
For Whom the Bell Tolls illustrate this trite syllogism.
—David Pryce-Jones, National Review, 22 Aug. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for syllogism
Noun
-
The problems with Trump’s proposal There are many holes in Trump’s logic, as economists and policy experts across the political spectrum have noted for years.—
David Goldman,
CNN,
23 Jan. 2025
-
Some versions of test-time compute combine the logic of these approaches by using verifiers that evaluate a model’s output in both ways: as a stepwise process, with many possible branching paths, and as a final response.—
Lauren Leffer,
Scientific American,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gorsuch wrote separately, with Gorsuch agreeing with the outcome of the case but splitting with the court's reasoning.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
17 Jan. 2025
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Much of that reasoning is attributed to the rise in using computers instead of handwriting documents, as well as the frequent use of text messaging, according to the organization.—
Danielle Jennings,
People.com,
15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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In a recent interview, Kaplan mentioned that the Japanese-French synthesis, already so organic to their experiences, would cohere further during their travels.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2025
-
Nestled to the north of Auraria Parkway, the southwest of Speer Boulevard and the southeast of the train tracks that separate Ball Arena from Elitch Gardens, the 55-acre parcel’s future represents a potential synthesis of private profitability and public gain.—
Bennett Durando,
The Denver Post,
5 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Syllogism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/syllogism. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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