devil's advocate

[dev-uhlz ad-vuh-kit] / ˈdɛv əlz ˈæd və kɪt /

NOUN

mediator

Synonyms

WEAK

apologist pleader polemicist sophist

NOUN

opponent for the sake of it

Synonyms

WEAK

apologist defender mediator polemicist

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He does not need me to defend his honor or his single status, but while I may as well play devil’s advocate.

From MarketWatch • May 20, 2026

In her first SCiLL class, Allen said, “There were definitely people who’d signed up to play devil’s advocate in what they assumed would be a conservative class.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 2026

News website Ukrayinska Pravda even called him "the devil's advocate".

From BBC • May 24, 2025

How about the aggravating hipster who's always playing devil's advocate?

From Salon • Jul. 30, 2023

In Rome the advocatus diaboli, or devil’s advocate, had been established as early as 1587 to test the evidence adduced in support of the miracles claimed for those proposed for canonization.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton