tendentious

/tɛnˈdɛnʃəs/

Group 7Difficulty 3/3

Definition

(adjective)
Expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view; biased
GRE

Example in Context

The report was criticized as tendentious, with opponents arguing it cherry-picked data to support predetermined conclusions.

Synonyms

biasedpartisanone-sided

Etymology

Stretching ideas to promote a particular viewpoint.

  • tendere (Latin) — to stretch

Memory Aid

🦷Sounds like “tend dentist

A TENDENTIOUS dentist stretching out the truth, saying, 'Flossing is the key to world peace!'

Visual Association

📣A dentist passionately giving a speech, holding a giant toothbrush as if it's a microphone.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “tendentious” mean on the GRE?

tendentious (adjective) means “Expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view; biased”. The report was criticized as tendentious, with opponents arguing it cherry-picked data to support predetermined conclusions.

How to remember “tendentious” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “tendentious” sounds like “tend dentist”. A TENDENTIOUS dentist stretching out the truth, saying, 'Flossing is the key to world peace!'

What are synonyms for “tendentious”?

Common synonyms: biased, partisan, one-sided.