Meaning & use
straw man
A weakened or distorted version of an opponent's argument, created so it can be easily defeated.
See it in a sentence
Instead of addressing her point, he attacked a straw man that ignored her real argument.
The politician's speech relied on a straw man rather than engaging with the actual proposal.
A note on using this word
Straw man is a recognized logical fallacy in argument and debate, distinct from a literal figure made of straw.
Words with a similar meaning
This term is best learned through its definition and examples.
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “straw man”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.