Nearby Words

polemic

[puh-lem-ik, poh-] Example Sentences Origin

po·lem·ic

[puh-lem-ik, poh-]
noun
1.
a controversial argument, as one against some opinion, doctrine, etc.
2.
a person who argues in opposition to another; controversialist.
adjective
3.
Also, po·lem·i·cal. of or pertaining to a polemic; controversial.

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Polemic is always a great word to know.
So is gobo. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.

Origin:
1630–40; < Greek polemikós of or for war, equivalent to pólem(os) war + -ikos -ic

po·lem·i·cal·ly, adverb
non·po·lem·ic, noun, adjective
non·po·lem·i·cal, adjective
non·po·lem·i·cal·ly, adverb
o·ver·po·lem·i·cal, adjective
EXPAND
o·ver·po·lem·i·cal·ly, adverb
un·po·lem·ic, adjective
un·po·lem·i·cal, adjective
un·po·lem·i·cal·ly, adverb
COLLAPSE
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To polemic
Example Sentences
  • Not that he was short of prejudice and polemic.
  • The Journal does not desire to engage in a polemic editorial debate.
  • Not every post with 'Iraq' in it deserves a polemic reaction.
EXPAND
Collins
World English Dictionary
polemic (pəˈlɛmɪk)
 
adj
1.  of or involving dispute or controversy
 
n
2.  an argument or controversy, esp over a doctrine, belief, etc
3.  a person engaged in such an argument or controversy
 
[C17: from Medieval Latin polemicus, from Greek polemikos relating to war, from polemos war]
 
po'lemically
 
adv
 
polemicist
 
n
 
polemist
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

polemic
1638, "controversial argument or discussion," from Gk. polemikos "warlike, belligerent," from polemos "war." Meaning "one who writes in opposition to another" is attested from 1680.
EXPAND
"The worst offense that can be committed by a polemic is to stigmatize those who hold a contrary opinion as bad and immoral men." [John Stuart Mill, 1806-73]
Polemicize is recorded from 1953.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature