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GRE vocabulary

cogent

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore C words

clear, logical, and convincing

Word origin: From Latin cogere, to compel or drive together (co- together plus agere to drive).

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In a sentence

Cogent in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing cogent in a sentence.

She made a cogent case for cutting the program's budget.

Her cogent summary of the evidence persuaded even the skeptics on the panel.

Synonyms
convincingpersuasivecompellingsound
Antonyms
unconvincingweakspecious

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Verbal · Text Completion

The committee's report was praised for its candor, yet its central recommendation was so blank that administrators could cite it to justify nearly any policy they had already resolved to pursue.

Select the word that best completes the sentence.

Usage & nuance

Using “cogent” well

Cogent describes reasoning that is clear, logical, and convincing. It applies to arguments rather than to people.

Common questions

Questions about “cogent”

Cogent (adjective) means clear, logical, and convincing
Here is cogent used in an example sentence: "She made a cogent case for cutting the program's budget." Another example: "Her cogent summary of the evidence persuaded even the skeptics on the panel."
Common synonyms for cogent include convincing, persuasive, compelling, sound.
Antonyms of cogent include unconvincing, weak, specious.
Cogent pairs with convincing, persuasive, compelling, and sound. Its antonyms unconvincing, weak, and specious mark the faulty-argument answers; specious is a useful contrast meaning superficially plausible but false.
Yes. Cogent is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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