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
-
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
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Campaigns grounded in logic and elevated by imagination can deliver both impactful engagement and meaningful results.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
My own decision proceeded, not from the functioning of the reasoning mind, but from a revolt of the stomach.—
Robert Pinsky,
The New Yorker,
30 Jan. 2025
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Instead of trying to create larger and larger models that require increasingly exorbitant amounts of computing resources, AI companies are now focusing more on developing advanced capabilities, like reasoning.—
Will Knight,
WIRED,
28 Jan. 2025
Noun
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With long, unbroken takes of two strangers walking and talking, Linklater lets the technical aspects disappear into the story, achieving a remarkable synthesis of directing style and substance.—
Brian Smolensky and James Mercadante,
EW.com,
27 Jan. 2025
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Magnesium Magnesium is an important mineral that helps with more than 300 processes in the body, including protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation.17 Magnesium supplements come in various forms.—
Jonathan Purtell,
Verywell Health,
19 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Syllogism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/syllogism. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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