1. of, relating to, or characterized by debate or argument, especially debate conducted for the sake of winning rather than discovering truth
Usage: formal; often used in philosophical or academic contexts

Examples

• The professor criticized the student's eristical approach to the debate, noting that winning points mattered more than finding common ground.
• His eristical style made him a formidable opponent in academic discussions, though few enjoyed conversing with him.
• The panel descended into eristical bickering rather than engaging in genuine intellectual exchange.
• She preferred collaborative problem-solving to eristical sparring.
• The eristical nature of their argument obscured the underlying issues that needed resolution.