Everyday · Arguing & persuading
Cogent: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Cogent adjective. Clear, logical and convincing.
How to say it
KOH-junt/ˈkəʊdʒ(ə)nt/
2 syllables, stressed on the first (KOH).
Cogent in a sentence
She made a cogent case for moving the launch to spring, and nobody could find a hole in it.
His reply was polite but hardly cogent; it dodged every number we'd put to him.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- convincing
- compelling
- sound
- persuasive
Opposite:
- weak
- unconvincing
- muddled
Where cogent comes from
From Latin cogere, to drive together or compel.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
His reply was polite but hardly _____; it dodged every number we'd put to him.
- specious
- cogent
- contentious
Show the answer
cogent: His reply was polite but hardly cogent; it dodged every number we'd put to him.