tendencious
Adjective: 1. Exhibiting or characterized by a strong, often biased, point of view; not impartial: The word describes something (like writing, speech, or an argument) that is deliberately slanted to promote a particular cause, doctrine, or opinion, especially a controversial one. It implies a systematic tendency to favor one side, often at the expense of fairness or objectivity.
The adjective "tendencious" is used to critique a piece of information, analysis, or rhetoric for being partisan and persuasive rather than neutral and factual. It is a formal term, often found in academic, political, or journalistic criticism. - It typically modifies nouns like account, report, history, argument, interpretation, writing, article, or assertion. - It carries a negative connotation, suggesting the information is unreliable due to its intentional bias.
- The documentary was criticized for presenting a tendencious narrative that ignored key evidence.
- His review of the policy was more tendencious than analytical, aiming to sway public opinion rather than inform.
- Scholars must strive to avoid tendencious language in their research papers.
- "Tendencious selectivity": Refers to the biased act of choosing only facts or data that support a predetermined conclusion.
- The lawyer's case was built on a foundation of tendentious selectivity, omitting all witness statements that contradicted his client's story.
- Tendentiousness (noun): The quality or state of being tendentious.
- The tendentiousness of the article undermined its credibility.
- Tendentiously (adverb): In a tendentious manner.
- The author tendentiously framed the economic data to support his political agenda.
- Biased
- Partisan
- Prejudiced
- Polemical
- One-sided
- Slanted
- Partial
- Impartial
- Objective
- Unbiased
- Neutral
- Dispassionate
- Even-handed
While "tendencious" is synonymous with "biased," it often carries a specific nuance. It frequently describes bias that is deliberate and systematic, woven into the structure of an argument or narrative to advance a specific agenda, particularly in ideological, political, or doctrinal contexts. It is less about unconscious prejudice and more about purposeful persuasion.
- having or marked by a strong tendency especially a controversial one
- a tendentious account of recent elections
- distinguishing between verifiable fact and tendentious assertion