View synonyms for straw man

straw man

noun

a mass of straw formed to resemble a man, as for a doll or scarecrow.
a person whose importance or function is only nominal, as to cover another's activities; front.
a fabricated or conveniently weak or innocuous person, object, matter, etc., used as a seeming adversary or argument:
The issue she railed about was no more than a straw man.

straw man

straw man

A made-up version of an opponent's argument that can easily be defeated. To accuse people of attacking a straw man is to suggest that they are avoiding worthier opponents and more valid criticisms of their own position: “His speech had emotional appeal, but it wasn't really convincing because he attacked a straw man rather than addressing the real issues.”

First recorded in 1585–95

Critics tend to rely on straw man arguments claiming Jeter wasn't the very best.

The problem is that the media apologists are battling a straw man.

But Scarborough said that it was a "straw man's argument" to pretend that all Republicans want European-style austerity.

Instead of paying the minor fine and moving on (that would be accepting the straw man,) they battle it out in court.

And all you have to do to collect is file the right paperwork—and in the meantime, refuse to acknowledge the straw man.

This brutal form is quite beneath the dignity of a wholesome straw man.

And what good is the straw man to you, or to himself, when the ditch keeps you from going any further?

We may have been fooled, and we may be chasing a straw man in a paper boat right at this minute, sir.

Sometimes a stuffed recamúchi (cacomistle, bassariscus) is used either in the place of a straw-man or in addition to it.

That would be putting up a straw man and knocking him down, which is profitless and unconvincing.

April 25, 2024firkin

[fur-kin ]

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