syllogism

noun

Definition of syllogismnext
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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of syllogism And Lincoln has a famous syllogism where, If the Black man can be enslaved because his skin is darker than yours, then you can be enslaved by anyone whose skin is fairer than yours. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for syllogism
  1. logic
  2. reasoning
  3. synthesis
Noun
  • That approach served reasonably well for compliance risk and reputational risk, where the underlying logic, if not every technical detail, remained familiar to most directors.
    — Amer Al Ahbabi, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Piecing together that chain of events is where the blueprints of the characters’ house and the logic maps came in.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of logic
Noun
  • McMillan, who was Prince’s lawyer for more than a decade, jumped on a Zoom with Rolling Stone to discuss Timeless, his reasoning behind the Netflix decision, the estate’s future plans, and much more.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The reasoning behind Criterion’s selections remains somewhat mysterious.
    — Sophia Nguyen, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of reasoning
Noun
  • Why the finding matters for catalysts Copper is widely studied as a catalyst for chemical reactions including carbon dioxide reduction, methanol synthesis, and oxidation.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Omega-3 supplements with CoQ10 and vitamin D with K can both support collagen synthesis (just check with your primary care doctor before starting them).
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of synthesis

Browse Nearby Words

sylleptic
syllogism
syllogistic
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Cite this Entry

“Syllogism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/syllogism. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on syllogism

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about syllogism

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