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# steelman

verb (steelman, steelmans, steelmanned, steelmanning); noun (a steelman, steelmen — rare)

«steelman» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To steelman someone's argument is to describe it in its strongest, fairest form before you answer it, even if you disagree. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/steelman/#m1)
2. A steelman is that strongest version of the other side's argument. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/steelman/#m2)
3. (rare, old) A steelman can also be a man who works making steel. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/steelman/#m3)

### In the lessons

In ethics, debate and philosophy lessons steelmanning is a fair way to argue: the opposite of a «straw man», where you twist the other side's view to make it easy to knock down. It shows respect and helps you think clearly. Phrases: steelman the argument, steelman the other side.

### Examples

- Before you disagree, try to steelman your friend's idea. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/steelman/#x1)
- Let's steelman the argument for a longer school day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/steelman/#x2)
- She steelmanned the other team's point so well that they thanked her. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/steelman/#x3)
- A straw man makes the other side look silly; a steelman makes it look its best. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/steelman/#x4)
- In our debate club we must steelman before we argue back. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/steelman/#x5)
- Can you steelman why some people want to ban phones in schools? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/steelman/#x6)
- Steelmanning helps you find the truth instead of just winning. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/steelman/#x7)

### Note

It is a newer, informal word made as the opposite of «straw man». Spelling: steelmanned, steelmanning (double n is common). Not used in maths.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «steelman» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/steelman/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«steelman» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/steelman.html) on Mova free.