cogent

IPA/ˈkəʊdʒənt/
KK[kˈodʒənt]IPA/ˈkəʊdʒənt/

cogent — adjective

  • cogentpositive
  • more cogentcomparative
  • most cogentsuperlative

1. stated in a clear and well-reasoned way that makes other people accept what you

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

stated in a clear and well-reasoned way that makes other people accept what you are saying.

Example

Sumin gave a cogent argument for moving the team meeting to Monday morning.

a cogent + argument (most typical noun collocation)

The lawyer made a cogent case that the witness never saw the accident clearly.

make a cogent case + that-clause

Common collocations
  • a cogent argument
  • a cogent case
  • cogent reasons
  • a cogent point
  • cogent analysis
  • a cogent explanation
  • cogent and persuasive
Synonyms
  • convincing

    more common and less formal; can describe a wider range of things including performances and victories

  • compelling

    stronger emotional pull; often used of stories and evidence, not just reasoning

  • persuasive

    focuses on the effect on the listener rather than the internal clarity of the reasoning

  • well-reasoned

    neutral and plain; describes the structure of the argument without claiming it succeeds in persuading

Antonyms
  • weak

    general antonym for arguments that fail to persuade

  • unconvincing

    direct opposite when the argument does not win the listener over

  • muddled

    describes reasoning that is unclear or confused

Grammar Patterns

a cogent + noun (argument, reason, case, point)

be cogent

Usage Note

Subject is almost always an argument, reason, case, point, or piece of writing — not a person directly. You can say 'a cogent speaker' to mean someone whose arguments are cogent, but you do not say 'a cogent child' to describe a person's character.

Common Mistakes

Michael is a very cogent person.
Michael presents very cogent arguments.
cogent describes reasoning and what people say, not their general personality.
The dancer's movements were cogent.
The dancer's movements were precise.
cogent applies to words and ideas, not to physical actions.

Word family

  • cogently
    adverbC1
  • cogency
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All five words describe arguments or evidence that move a listener toward agreement, but they differ in what they emphasize. 'Cogent' is the most formal and focuses on the internal logic — a cogent argument is tightly built and clearly expressed, the kind you meet in legal briefs, academic papers, and editorials. 'Convincing' is everyday English and emphasizes the result: a convincing argument simply wins you over, whether by logic, evidence, or even tone. 'Compelling' adds an emotional or dramatic pull; a compelling story or compelling testimony grips you, not only your reason. 'Persuasive' centers on the speaker's skill at moving the audience and often suggests rhetorical craft. 'Well-reasoned' is the most neutral, describing structure without claiming success: a well-reasoned essay may still leave you unconvinced. Use 'cogent' when you want to praise clear, disciplined reasoning; reach for 'compelling' when feeling matters as much as logic.

cogent ↗convincing ↗compelling ↗persuasive ↗well-reasoned

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • highly cogent
  • particularly cogent
  • remarkably cogent

Phrases

  • cogent and persuasive
  • clear and cogent
  • a cogent defence

Etymology

LatinEnglish

From Latin 'cogere', meaning to drive together or force, formed from 'co-' (together) plus 'agere' (to drive or do). The present participle 'cogens' carried the sense of compelling, and the English word entered the language in the seventeenth century with the figurative meaning of an argument that drives a listener toward acceptance — reasoning that you cannot easily push back against.