Straw Man Definition
noun
Webster's New World
A deliberately weak and easily refuted argument put forward, as by a politician or debater, as the argument of the opposition.
Webster's New World
A person of little importance; nonentity.
Webster's New World
A person used to disguise another's intentions, activities, etc.; blind.
Webster's New World
verb
To falsely attribute an insubstantial argument (a straw man argument) to another through direct declaration or indirect implication.
Person A: "Cats have claws."Person B: "Not all cats have claws, some are declawed."Person A: "Don't straw man me, I never said -all-"Person B: "Well I never said -you- said all, so don't straw man me either. But you didn't say 'some' cats or 'most' cats so I wanted to interject in case others assumed the lack of qualifier to imply or imply all cats."
Wiktionary
Other Word Forms of Straw Man
Noun
Singular:
straw man
Plural:
straw menOrigin of Straw Man
Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1986 passim, shows first known usages for things insubstantial date to 1585-95. Universal Dictionary of the English Language, 1897, Vol 4, p. 4485, notes "man of straw" as "The figure of a man formed of an old suit of clothes stuffed with straw; hence, the mere resemblance of a man; one of no substance or means; an imaginary person."
From Wiktionary
From the making of sham human figures out of bundles of straw, as for use as scarecrows or practice targets
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Straw Man Is Also Mentioned In
Find Similar Words
Find similar words to straw man using the buttons below.