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A cogent argument is one that really drives its point home because it is clear, coherent, and readily understandable, and perhaps also because of the etymological history of cogent. Cogent comes from the Latin verb cogere, meaning “to drive or force together.” Something described as cogent fuses thoughts and ideas into a meaningful whole that others can readily grasp and accept. A cogent explanation is a convincing one, and cogent analysis has us nodding along because it is clear and pertinent. Cogere was formed in Latin by combining the prefix co- with the verb agere, “to drive, lead, or act,” a root which is also the source of our familiar noun agent. Handily enough, one definition of agent is “a means or instrument by which a guiding intelligence achieves a result.” It follows logically then that cogency is often a worthwhile agent, indeed.
Synonyms
Examples of cogent in a Sentence
David Hajdu, Mother Jones, September/October 2003
Your article provides cogent reading.
—Mario Cuomo, letter
U.S. News & World Report, 23 Mar. 1992
Your arguments, whether or not one agrees with them, are generally cogent, and at times elegantly expressed.
—Willard R. Espy, letter
Wall Street Journal, 24 Apr. 1990
The author … makes a cogent and finely nuanced case for the wisdom—indeed, the necessity of this vision.
—Marian Sandmaier, New York Times Book Review, 8 Feb. 1987
the results of the DNA fingerprinting were the most cogent evidence for acquittal
News Desk, Artforum, 5 Sep. 2024
In most of these cases of Albany legislative wrangling, there’s at least cogent if often unconvincing arguments on both sides.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 16 May 2024
The Republican Party seems at last to be coalescing anew around a concentrated set of cogent arguments.
—Danielle Allen, Washington Post, 19 July 2024
His book is particularly cogent on the cultural, political, and administrative lineages that linked them; the growth of Islam; and the institution of slavery.
—Michael A. Gomez, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2018
See all Example Sentences for cogent 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cogent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near cogent
Cite this Entry
“Cogent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cogent. Accessed 16 Sep. 2024.
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cogent
adjective
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