straw man
The term "straw man" originates from a scarecrow figure and is commonly used in logical arguments and business proposals.
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Definition
C1Logic
(formal, academic)A logical fallacy where an argument is misrepresented to make it easier to refute.
Example
- Accusing her of wanting to ban all cars was a straw man argument; she only advocated for more public transportation.
C1Rhetoric
(formal, academic)A tactic where an opponent's position is distorted to weaken their argument.
Example
- He used a straw man to misrepresent her stance on climate change, making it easier to argue against.
B2Business
(technical, jargon)An initial, simple draft proposal meant to generate discussion and be refined.
Example
- The team presented a straw man to kick off the brainstorming session.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "straw man":