Word.ws English Dictionary

Synonyms of sophistry

8 similar words

Another word for sophistry is sophism. Other synonyms of sophistry are excuse, casuistry, casuistics, pilpul and pilpulism.

Synonyms and similar words for sophistry

nounPlausible yet fallacious argumentation or reasoning.

  • excuse
  • sophismA flawed argument, superficially correct in its reasoning, usually designed to deceive.
  • casuistrySophistry, a specious argument designed to defend an action or feeling.
  • casuistics
  • pilpulSynonym of sophistry, hair-splitting, quibbling.
  • pilpulismThe act of engaging in pilpul, sophistry, Talmudic analysis.
  • JesuitrySynonym of Jesuitism, (Christianity) the work and beliefs of Jesuits, (derogatory, dated) casuistry, sophistry.
  • Jesuitism dated, derogatoryCunning; deceit; casuistry; sophistry.

Meaning of sophistry

  1. noun The actions or arguments of a sophist.
  2. noun Plausible yet fallacious argumentation or reasoning.
  3. noun An argument that seems plausible, but is fallacious or misleading, especially one devised deliberately to be so.

Full definition of sophistry

sophistry in other languages

Questions about synonyms of sophistry

What is another word for sophistry?
Sophistry has 8 synonyms on Word.ws, such as sophism, excuse, casuistry, casuistics, pilpul, pilpulism, Jesuitry and Jesuitism.
What does sophistry mean?
Sophistry means the actions or arguments of a sophist.

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: sophistry (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated:

Cite this page: “Synonyms of sophistry.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/sophistry. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.