argumentum ad baculum

noun

The use or threat of force to coerce acceptance of an argument.

Similar
appeal to force
OriginLatin argūmentum ad baculum →
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Meanings

noun
  1. rhetoricThe use or threat of force to coerce acceptance of an argument.

    Synonyms: appeal to force

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe use or threat of force to coerce acceptance of an argument.

Similar
appeal to force

Origin

  1. Latinargūmentum ad baculum
  2. Englishargumentum ad baculum

Unadapted borrowing from Latin argūmentum ad baculum (literally “argument to the cudgel”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 訴諸武力 /诉诸武力
  • 訴諸武力 /诉诸武力 (sùzhū wǔlì)use or threat of force to coerce acceptance of an argument
Tagalog katwirang umaantig sa lakas
  • katwirang umaantig sa lakasuse or threat of force to coerce acceptance of an argument
Cite this entry
APA

argumentum ad baculum. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/argumentum%20ad%20baculum

MLA

“argumentum ad baculum.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/argumentum%20ad%20baculum. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “argumentum ad baculum,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/argumentum%20ad%20baculum.

Source: argumentum ad baculum on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.