Word meaning something is technically accurate but overly simplistic

Question

I am trying to think of a word used to describe someone who is intentionally oversimplifying an argument by making a statement that is technically true, but ignores a lot of issues. Its an adjective similar to describing the person as being intentionally obtuse or too clever for their own good.

Commonly known as the "strawman fallacy". – xiota May 31 '18 at 20:13 — xiota, May 31 '18 at 20:13

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 31 '13 at 19:47

5

Are you looking for "disingenuous?"

answered Aug 31 '13 at 19:47

Greg Hullender

1,466

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 31 '13 at 21:35

3

Another take on this could be "reductive"?

answered Aug 31 '13 at 21:35

Benoit

73

Haven't actually heard it used like that before. Similar but doesn't imply that the author is doing it intentionally, which is what I was going for – Lawton Aug 31 '13 at 22:17

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 31 '13 at 21:37

3

I might go with "glib" as a synonym for "superficial." However, neither of those are really about being too clever.

When I think of "too clever," I think of "cocky" of "flip."

answered Aug 31 '13 at 21:37

B Morrison

31

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 05 '18 at 07:21

0

Shallow, superficial, or facile:

From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:

facile
adj 1: arrived at without due care or effort; lacking depth;
"too facile a solution for so complex a problem"

answered Jun 05 '18 at 07:21

agc

2,794
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Word meaning something is technically accurate but overly simplistic

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