HealthAugust 2, 2026

steelman

STEEL-man

Definition

A rhetorical technique that involves addressing the strongest possible version of an opponent's argument to ensure that the critique is substantive and fair.

Etymology

A back-formation coined as a witty antonym to 'strawman,' which refers to creating a weak or distorted version of an argument to make it easier to attack.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the persuasive, valid concern that patients might lose essential treatment if deescalation trials are conducted poorly, emphasizing that this risk must be fully engaged with rather than dismissed.

The Clinical Trial That Asks Whether Your Current Treatment Should Exist

Read the full article ↗

The Clinical Trial Vanguard

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