adjective
- of or relating to elenchus; refuting an argument by drawing out its logical contradictions
Usage: formal; philosophy
Examples
- Socrates employed an elenctic method to expose the contradictions in his interlocutors' beliefs.
- The elenctic approach involves questioning assumptions until logical inconsistencies emerge.
- Her elenctic argument systematically dismantled the opposing position by revealing its internal contradictions.
- The philosopher used elenctic dialogue to guide students toward truth through critical examination.