Cogent

/ˈkəʊdʒənt/
adjective

A very convincing or believable thing or person.

The lawyer provided a cogent argument for her client's innocence.
Visual representation of "cogent" - A very convincing or believable thing or person.

Often appears as...

  • cogent argument
  • cogent evidence

Usage tips

Formal

Academic

adjective

Something clear, logical, and convincing.

The students presented a cogent analysis of the novel.
Visual representation of "cogent" - Something clear, logical, and convincing.

Often appears as...

  • cogent analysis
  • cogent explanation
adjective

A very convincing or believable thing or person.

The lawyer provided a cogent argument for her client's innocence.
Visual representation of "cogent" - A very convincing or believable thing or person.

Often appears as...

  • cogent argument
  • cogent evidence

Usage tips

Formal

Academic

adjective

Something clear, logical, and convincing.

The students presented a cogent analysis of the novel.
Visual representation of "cogent" - Something clear, logical, and convincing.

Often appears as...

  • cogent analysis
  • cogent explanation
Definition 1 of 2
Visual representation of "cogent"
LampPro Tip 1/3

Persuasive Contexts

Use 'cogent' for arguments that not only convince you, but also sway others in debates.

Illustration for Persuasive Contexts
Her cogent speech about climate change influenced the entire committee.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Not Just Facts

'Cogent' implies that how the evidence is presented is as crucial as the evidence itself.

Illustration for Not Just Facts
Even with solid facts, his presentation lacked a cogent narrative.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Emotional Appeal

While factual, 'cogent' can also include emotional appeal that makes the argument relatable.

Illustration for Emotional Appeal
Her personal story added a cogent touch to the statistical report.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Persuasive Contexts

Use 'cogent' for arguments that not only convince you, but also sway others in debates.

Illustration for Persuasive Contexts
Her cogent speech about climate change influenced the entire committee.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Not Just Facts

'Cogent' implies that how the evidence is presented is as crucial as the evidence itself.

Illustration for Not Just Facts
Even with solid facts, his presentation lacked a cogent narrative.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Emotional Appeal

While factual, 'cogent' can also include emotional appeal that makes the argument relatable.

Illustration for Emotional Appeal
Her personal story added a cogent touch to the statistical report.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Persuasive Contexts

Use 'cogent' for arguments that not only convince you, but also sway others in debates.

Illustration for Persuasive Contexts
Her cogent speech about climate change influenced the entire committee.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Not Just Facts

'Cogent' implies that how the evidence is presented is as crucial as the evidence itself.

Illustration for Not Just Facts
Even with solid facts, his presentation lacked a cogent narrative.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Emotional Appeal

While factual, 'cogent' can also include emotional appeal that makes the argument relatable.

Illustration for Emotional Appeal
Her personal story added a cogent touch to the statistical report.
Visual representation of the word "Cogent"

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Quote examples

Crispin Blunt

Those members of the executive council who voted against my candidacy in the absence of a cogent reason they could publicly present and having now been so convincingly contradicted by the wider membership must ask themselves how they can best assist uniting and reinvigorating a party which is overwhelmingly united around my candidacy.
Portrait of Crispin Blunt

Quote examples

Sandi Toksvig

British Writer

I'm 57 years old, and I host a quiz show every single day. I got asked in a recent interview, did I feel that hosting a quiz show helps keep my brain sharp? And I asked - would you ask Stephen Fry that question, who is exactly the same age as me? Somehow, I'm managing to stand up and stay cogent despite my incredible age.
Portrait of Sandi Toksvig

Quote examples

Lawrence Wright

American Author

There are a lot of reporters who I feel are a lot more courageous and fool-hardy than I am. Maybe at the top I'd put Dexter Filkins. He's an extraordinary man in terms of his nerve and ability to get into dangerous situations and tell the story cogently. He's bringing back real human stories. I admire that.
Portrait of Lawrence Wright

Quote examples

Stephen Graham Jones

American Author

You come out of your MFA program with a cogent clutch of stories, trying to get an agent interested, and she or he admits these are quality, sure, but this agent actually needs something the publisher can make money on. So you get kind of bullied by the market into writing a novel.
Portrait of Stephen Graham Jones

Quote examples

Thomas Hardiman

American Judge

The most cogent principle that can be drawn from traditional limitations on the right to keep and bear arms is that dangerous persons likely to use firearms for illicit purposes were not understood to be protected by the Second Amendment.
Portrait of Thomas Hardiman

Quote examples

Brad Feld

American Businessman

As I continue to believe that innovation and entrepreneurship are the key drivers to our economic future, it's frustrating to hear such little cogent discussion around it.
Portrait of Brad Feld

Quote examples

Nicolas Cage

Actor

I don't want to just do independent movies and I don't want to just do adventure films. I enjoy both, and I think both are cogent.
Portrait of Nicolas Cage

Quote examples

John Stuart Mill

English Philosopher

The most cogent reason for restricting the interference of government is the great evil of adding unnecessarily to its power.
Portrait of John Stuart Mill

Quote examples

Ted Lieu

American Politician

The U.S. cannot implement a cogent strategy on the world stage if no one is sure whether to take the President seriously.
Portrait of Ted Lieu

Quote examples

Crispin Blunt

Those members of the executive council who voted against my candidacy in the absence of a cogent reason they could publicly present and having now been so convincingly contradicted by the wider membership must ask themselves how they can best assist uniting and reinvigorating a party which is overwhelmingly united around my candidacy.
Portrait of Crispin Blunt

Quote examples

Sandi Toksvig

British Writer

I'm 57 years old, and I host a quiz show every single day. I got asked in a recent interview, did I feel that hosting a quiz show helps keep my brain sharp? And I asked - would you ask Stephen Fry that question, who is exactly the same age as me? Somehow, I'm managing to stand up and stay cogent despite my incredible age.
Portrait of Sandi Toksvig

Quote examples

Lawrence Wright

American Author

There are a lot of reporters who I feel are a lot more courageous and fool-hardy than I am. Maybe at the top I'd put Dexter Filkins. He's an extraordinary man in terms of his nerve and ability to get into dangerous situations and tell the story cogently. He's bringing back real human stories. I admire that.
Portrait of Lawrence Wright

Quote examples

Stephen Graham Jones

American Author

You come out of your MFA program with a cogent clutch of stories, trying to get an agent interested, and she or he admits these are quality, sure, but this agent actually needs something the publisher can make money on. So you get kind of bullied by the market into writing a novel.
Portrait of Stephen Graham Jones

Quote examples

Thomas Hardiman

American Judge

The most cogent principle that can be drawn from traditional limitations on the right to keep and bear arms is that dangerous persons likely to use firearms for illicit purposes were not understood to be protected by the Second Amendment.
Portrait of Thomas Hardiman

Quote examples

Brad Feld

American Businessman

As I continue to believe that innovation and entrepreneurship are the key drivers to our economic future, it's frustrating to hear such little cogent discussion around it.
Portrait of Brad Feld

Quote examples

Nicolas Cage

Actor

I don't want to just do independent movies and I don't want to just do adventure films. I enjoy both, and I think both are cogent.
Portrait of Nicolas Cage

Quote examples

John Stuart Mill

English Philosopher

The most cogent reason for restricting the interference of government is the great evil of adding unnecessarily to its power.
Portrait of John Stuart Mill

Quote examples

Ted Lieu

American Politician

The U.S. cannot implement a cogent strategy on the world stage if no one is sure whether to take the President seriously.
Portrait of Ted Lieu
Example 1 of 9
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