polemic
puh-LEM-ik
/pəˈlem.ɪk/
A strong verbal or written attack on someone's opinions, beliefs, or principles.
Highly aggressive and one-sided; not a balanced debate but a targeted assault.
The story behind the word. From the Greek 'polemos,' meaning war. A polemic is literally a 'war of words.'
Word relationships
- diatribe: A diatribe is a bitter, abusive speech; a polemic is more structured and often written.
- panegyric: A panegyric is a speech of high praise; a polemic is a speech of high criticism.
Commonly confused with
- apology: In a theological sense, an 'apology' is a defense of a belief; a 'polemic' is an attack on an opposing belief.
Word family
- polemicist (noun): A person who writes polemics.
- polemical (adjective): Aggressively argumentative.
Collocations
- fierce polemic
- religious polemic
- polemic against
Example sentences
- "His latest book is a fierce polemic against the modern education system." Literary criticism.
- "The pamphlet was intended as a polemic to stir up revolutionary sentiment." Historical analysis.
Memory hook
Polemic = 'Political' + 'Enemy'. You write it against your political enemy. A war of words.
When not to use
Not for a friendly discussion or a neutral critique.
Fun facts
- The 17th-century poet John Milton was a famous polemicist, writing many tracts on divorce and freedom of the press.
Explore more words
iconoclastic, harangue, dogmatism, iconoclasm, vociferous, heckle
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