noun
- a person who uses clever but misleading arguments
- a teacher of philosophy and rhetoric in ancient Greece
Usage: historical
Examples
- The politician was accused of being a sophist who twisted facts to support his agenda.
- Don’t be fooled by his sophist arguments that sound logical but are actually flawed.
- Ancient Greek sophists taught wealthy young men the art of persuasive speaking.
- Plato criticized the sophists for caring more about winning arguments than finding truth.
- The debate team coach warned against using sophist tactics that might impress judges but mislead audiences.
- Socrates distinguished himself from the sophists by claiming to know nothing rather than everything.