sophists

1. Ancient Greek teachers who were accused by some of their contemporaries (including Plato ) of being more interested in winning arguments through crafty rhetoric than in pursuing truth.

Notes

By extension, a “sophist” is someone who engages in persuasive but false arguments.

Example Sentences

International politics is not best overseen by saints or sophists.

From Los Angeles Times

Musk and DeSantis praised each other for their dedication to free speech, and Sacks brought on several right-wing sophists to add their voices.

From Los Angeles Times

But above all, you would not expect to see programs on an American news channel, if not taking the side of the Russian aggressor, at least giving a platform to its excusers and sophists.

From New York Times

Like Socrates exposing the sophists of Athens, Kierkegaard “sought to expose” false teachers of grand schemes, the “pseudo-philosophers.”

From Washington Post

The Greek sophists were learned men who made clever arguments that were, in fact, false.

From Washington Post