dogmatic
dog-MAT-ik
/dɒɡˈmætɪk/
Inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true, without considering evidence or opinions of others.
Carries a strong negative connotation of rigidity, close-mindedness, and stubborn insistence on doctrine.
The story behind the word. From Greek 'dokein' (to seem or think), 'dogma' was originally an opinion, decree, or philosophical principle that seemed correct to a school of thinkers. As Christian councils established fixed creeds ('dogmas') that believers were required to accept, 'dogmatic' evolved from meaning 'relating to doctrines' to describing someone who stubbornly insists their rules are indisputable.
Word relationships
- doctrinaire: Stubbornly attached to a specific theory or doctrine without regard to practical considerations.
- inflexible: Unwilling to change or compromise, though not necessarily doctrinal.
- open-minded: Willing to consider new ideas and arguments.
- pragmatic: Guided by practical considerations rather than rigid ideology.
Commonly confused with
- pragmatic: Pragmatic means guided by practical results, while dogmatic means guided by fixed rules regardless of results.
Word family
- dogma (noun): A principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true.
- dogmatism (noun): The tendency to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true.
Collocations
- dogmatic stance
- dogmatic approach
- dogmatic adherence
- dogmatic assertion
Example sentences
- "The professor was so dogmatic in his lecture that he dismissed all counterarguments as ignorant." Debate critique
Memory hook
A dogmatic person is like a guard DOG standing over their rules, refusing to move. Dogmatic = insisting dogma is unquestionable.
When not to use
Do not use simply to describe someone who has strong convictions; use it when someone refuses to consider counter-arguments or facts.
Fun facts
- In ancient Greece, 'dogma' was a neutral word for the official decision of a political assembly or a philosophical school's core thesis.
Related words
Explore more words
dogma, dogmatism, bigotry, unequivocal, absolutism, sectarian
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