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Glite Dictionary
Jesuitic

Jesuitic

9.9
Being clever and indirect in arguments to avoid giving a direct answer
  • adjective
  • /ˌdʒɛzʊˈɪtɪk/
  • Offensive
translation icon : jesuítico
  • His Jesuitic arguments often left people questioning their own beliefs.

Examples

  • The politician's Jesuitic tactics were subtle, allowing him to manipulate the debate without appearing aggressive.

  • She employed a Jesuitic approach in her negotiations, carefully considering every possible outcome.

  • The narrative closes on a British and Jesuitic plot to extinguish the Democratic Party in Rome, before the establishment of the republic and the appearance of a French army to put the city under siege.

    Academic text (2001)

Synonyms

Jesuit
vsJesuitic
4 8.6

Showing careful, subtle reasoning and strict moral teaching

has identical meaning but is the adjectival form ending in ic

Compounds

Jesuitic mindset
  • Offensive
9.9

A careful, clever way of thinking that uses tricky arguments to find a way around rules

Jesuitic reasoning
  • Offensive
9.9

Very complicated, tricky argument that tries to hide the truth

Jesuitic turn
  • Slur
9.9

A clever but tricky argument meant to confuse people

How Subtle

nuanced
41 6.3
Jesuitic
  • Offensive
9.9
subtle
276 6.0
blunt
100 3.8

Surface Forms

Jesuitic positive

Morphology

Jesuitic = Jesuit (semi-transparent) = Jesuit + ic

The suffix '-ic' denotes relating to or characteristic of, but the specific connotations of subtlety and craftiness are not immediately apparent.

Etymology

Jesuitic comes from Jesuit, the name for a member of the Catholic group called the Society of Jesus, which is named after Jesus. Because the Jesuits became known for very careful and clever argument, Jesuitic now means 'clever and a bit tricky'.