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
-
After the dust settled, DeChambeau had the opportunity to return to the subject, explaining that both McIlroy's attitude and his own words were in keeping with the logic of the moment.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
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Drug Discovery Quantum computers are especially good at simulating the real world because the real world follows the rules of quantum physics — something traditional computers, which rely on simple binary logic, struggle to replicate accurately.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
So, there is a tradeoff between costs and complexity from an agent perspective when comparing deep reasoning versus agentic workflows.—
Jason Andersen,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Graterol is on the injured list and has not played this season, so perhaps that was his reasoning.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
This project is a perfect synthesis of design and industry.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
7 Apr. 2025
-
The result is more naturalistic, fluent speech synthesis.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Syllogism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/syllogism. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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