unfounded arguments

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unfounded arguments" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe claims or assertions that lack evidence or basis in fact. Example: "The debate was filled with unfounded arguments that did not contribute to a constructive discussion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Mr. Wilton-Jones had "had enough of these unfounded arguments" and decided to test the browsers.

The New York Times

"They have a great deal now, and I think they are trying to maintain the status quo by levying these unfounded arguments," said Rachel Weintraub, director of product safety for the Consumer Federation of America.

The New York Times

Misinterpretations of entropy and conflation with additional misunderstandings of the second law of thermodynamics are ubiquitous among scientists and non-scientists alike and have been used by creationists as the basis of unfounded arguments against evolutionary theory.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

The conflation of its inaccurate interpretations with common misconceptions about evolution has resulted in a host of unfounded arguments that purport to challenge evidence for evolution and teaching evolution in classrooms.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Freedom of Speech means freedom to lie and say horrible things and insult people and make unfounded arguments—if we didn't have the freedom to do those things, the internet would be empty of content.

Vice

For example, it can ruin good communication between people, causing a downward spiral of unfounded arguments and fights.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

It is a prejudiced and unfounded argument that serves to incite and defend violence against people in these communities.

Huffington Post

Sen. Chuck Grassley's endorsement Wednesday of an unfounded, extremist argument that Democratic health care legislation could empower the government to "pull the plug on grandma" has once again raised question about the utility of the White House's efforts at bipartisanship.

Huffington Post

The video was meant to show that Western criticism of the relentless bombing of civilians in Aleppo was completely unfounded, but its arguments were swiftly discredited.

Huffington Post

Eddington's arguments were unfounded and highly dubious; but the weight of his reputation was such that no one dared disagree with him.

The Guardian

"Hopes of some Russians that this regime can change through education, proper instruction or with convincing arguments are unfounded," Andrei N. Illarionov, a former economic adviser to Mr. Putin, wrote in a blog post this week.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about debates or disagreements, use "unfounded arguments" to describe claims that lack factual support, thereby strengthening the credibility of your own position by highlighting the weakness of the opposing view.

Common error

Avoid labeling an argument as "unfounded" simply because it is unpopular or contradicts your personal beliefs. An argument is "unfounded" when it lacks evidence or logical reasoning, regardless of how widely it is accepted or rejected.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "unfounded arguments" is to act as a noun phrase that describes a particular quality of arguments. It typically functions as an object or complement within a sentence. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correctly used in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unfounded arguments" is a grammatically sound and useful phrase for describing claims lacking a factual basis. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correctly used and understood in English. While not exceedingly common, it appears across various contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific discourse. When employing this phrase, ensure it's applied accurately to arguments genuinely lacking evidence, rather than merely expressing disagreement with an opinion. Alternatives like "baseless claims" or "groundless accusations" can provide nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

baseless claims

Focuses on the lack of a base or foundation for the claims, similar to arguments.

groundless accusations

Emphasizes the lack of ground or justification for the accusations.

unsubstantiated assertions

Highlights that the assertions have not been proven or supported with evidence.

tenuous reasoning

Suggests that the reasoning is weak and flimsy.

fallacious reasoning

Points out the presence of logical fallacies in the reasoning.

specious claims

Emphasizes that the claims appear correct but are actually false.

erroneous contentions

Highlights that the contentions are incorrect or mistaken.

flawed premises

Focuses on the presence of defects in the underlying assumptions.

unsupported allegations

Highlights that the allegations lack evidence to back them up.

invalid arguments

Focuses on the logical structure of the arguments being unsound.

FAQs

How to use "unfounded arguments" in a sentence?

You can use "unfounded arguments" to describe claims that lack evidence or basis in fact. For example: "The debate was filled with "unfounded arguments" that did not contribute to a constructive discussion."

What can I say instead of "unfounded arguments"?

You can use alternatives like "baseless claims", "groundless accusations", or "unsubstantiated assertions" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "unfounded arguments" or "unfound arguments"?

"Unfounded arguments" is the correct and standard usage. "Unfound arguments" is not a recognized or grammatically correct phrase in English.

What's the difference between "unfounded arguments" and "weak arguments"?

"Unfounded arguments" suggests that the arguments lack a factual basis or evidence. "Weak arguments", on the other hand, may have some basis but are not persuasive or logically sound.