eristic

/ɛˈrɪstɪk/

Other forms: eristics

If you love to argue, you're eristic. Being eristic is a fairly common quality for a debater to have.

Eristic describes things that have to do with an argument, or simply the tendency to debate, especially when someone loves to win an argument and values that more highly than arriving at the truth. The person doing the arguing can also be called an eristic: "It makes me mad when that eristic wins his debates with his false arguments." The Greek root word is eris, "strife or discord."

Definitions of eristic

1. adjective

   given to disputation for its own sake and often employing specious arguments
   synonyms: eristical

   argumentative

   given to or characterized by argument
2. noun

   a person who disputes; who is good at or enjoys controversy
   synonyms: controversialist, disputant

   types:

   contester

   someone who contests an outcome (of a race or an election etc.)

   accuser

   someone who imputes guilt or blame

   arguer, debater

   someone who engages in debate

   denier

   one who denies

   hairsplitter

   a disputant who makes unreasonably fine distinctions

   logomach, logomachist

   someone given to disputes over words

   obstructer, obstructionist, obstructor, resister, thwarter

   someone who systematically obstructs some action that others want to take

   quarreler, quarreller

   a disputant who quarrels

   crusader, meliorist, reformer, reformist, social reformer

   a person or group who pushes to improve an institution or system by changing it

   abolitionist, emancipationist

   a reformer who favors abolishing slavery

   birth-control campaigner, birth-control reformer

   a social reformer who advocates birth control and family planning

   Chartist

   a 19th century English reformer who advocated better social and economic conditions for working people

   civil rights activist, civil rights leader, civil rights worker

   a leader of the political movement dedicated to securing equal opportunity for members of minority groups

   demonstrator, protester

   someone who participates in a public display of group feeling

   devil's advocate

   someone who takes the worse side just for the sake of argument

   dry, prohibitionist

   a reformer who opposes the use of intoxicating beverages

   conservationist, environmentalist

   someone who works to protect the environment from destruction or pollution

   feminist, libber, women's liberationist, women's rightist

   a supporter of feminism

   flower child, hippie, hippy, hipster

   someone who rejects the established culture; advocates extreme liberalism in politics and lifestyle

   freedom fighter, insurgent, insurrectionist, rebel

   a person who takes part in an armed rebellion against the constituted authority (especially in the hope of improving conditions)

   activist, militant

   a reformer who works to achieve social or political change

   naysayer

   someone with an aggressively negative attitude

   non-resistant, passive resister

   a reformer who believes in passive resistance

   preservationist

   someone who advocates the preservation of historical sites or endangered species or natural areas

   confuter, disprover, rebutter, refuter

   a debater who refutes or disproves by offering contrary evidence or argument

   stonewaller

   one who stonewalls or refuses to answer or cooperate; someone who delays by lengthy speeches etc.

   Utopian

   an idealistic (but usually impractical) social reformer

   wrangler

   someone who argues noisily or angrily

   type of:

   individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul

   a human being
3. noun

   the art of logical disputation (especially if specious)
   type of:

   art, artistry, prowess

   a superior skill that you can learn by study and practice and observation