A straw man fallacy (sometimes written as strawman) is the informal fallacy of refuting an argument different from the one actually under discussion, while not recognizing or acknowledging the distinction. [1] One who engages in this fallacy is said to be "attacking a straw man".

Jun 2, 2022 · What is a straw man argument? A straw man argument, sometimes called a straw person argument or spelled strawman argument, is the logical fallacy of distorting an opposing position into an extreme version of itself and then arguing against that extreme version.

Sep 11, 2023 · A straw man fallacy is a logical fallacy that occurs when a person rebuts an argument by misconstruing it. The concept comes from the metaphor of a straw man (or scarecrow). The straw man is not a real man. It’s a fake representation (e.g. a caricature) of one.

Apr 12, 2023 · Straw man fallacy occurs when someone distorts their opponent’s argument by oversimplifying or exaggerating it, for example, and then refutes this “new” version of the argument—called a straw man argument.

Jan 28, 2025 · The meaning of STRAW MAN is a weak or imaginary opposition (such as an argument or adversary) set up only to be easily confuted.

In general, the use of a strawman consists of the following three stages: First, person A states their position. Then, person B presents a distorted version of person A’s original position, while pretending that there’s no difference between the two versions.

STRAW MAN definition: 1. an argument, claim, or opponent that is invented in order to win or create an argument: 2…. Learn more.

Sep 11, 2019 · The straw man is a fallacy in which an opponent's argument is overstated or misrepresented in order to be more easily attacked or refuted. The technique often takes quotes out of context or, more often, incorrectly paraphrases or summarizes an opponent's position.

The straw man fallacy involves misrepresenting an opponent’s position to make it easier to refute. It oversimplifies an opposing view or disregards inconvenient points in favor of points that are easy to argue against.

A straw man fallacy occurs when someone distorts or exaggerates another person’s argument, and then attacks the distorted version of the argument instead of refuting the original point. By using a straw man, someone can give the appearance of refuting an argument when they have not actually engaged with the original ideas.