Home › Glossary › Letter P

Play devil's advocate

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

To argue against a position for the sake of debate, not personal belief.

Detailed Definition
See “Devil's advocate” entry—identical meaning, slightly more active phrasing. In poetry, it enables exploration of opposing views within a single voice, fostering dialectical tension. Used in philosophical or ethical poems where truth emerges through challenge. The theatrical role allows poets to inhabit counter-arguments without endorsement, enriching complexity. Its strategic dissent is vital in works questioning dogma, love, or justice—where understanding requires temporarily embracing the adversary’s logic to test one’s own convictions.
Example
Example in poetry:
Ethics class: “I’ll play devil’s advocate—what if stealing bread to feed kids is right?”; Literary debate: “Play devil’s advocate: is Hamlet heroic or just indecisive?”; Workshop tactic: “Play devil’s advocate to strengthen your argument—poke holes gently”; Relationship check: “Play devil’s advocate—what if your ‘soulmate’ is just convenient?”
Additional Notes
Identical to “Devil's advocate” but slightly more active phrasing. In poetry, it enables exploration of opposing views within a single voice, fostering dialectical tension. Used in philosophical or ethical poems where truth emerges through challenge. The theatrical role allows poets to inhabit counter-arguments without endorsement, enriching complexity. Students should analyze how poets use it to question dogma, love, or justice—where understanding requires temporarily embracing the adversary’s logic to test one’s own convictions, demonstrating poetry’s capacity for intellectual humility and rigorous self-interrogation.
Also Known As
Argue the opposite side
Skip to main content