Skip to main content
Dictionary
Store
Blog
World
Help
Advertise
Chat
System Status
Information Collection Notice
Trademark Concerns
reCAPTCHA Privacy
Terms of Service
reCAPTCHA Terms
Privacy Policy
Accessibility
Report a Bug
Data Request
Contact Us
Security
DMCA
© 1999–2026 Urban Dictionary ®
Mugs
Tees
Hoodies
Pro Customization
Create unique products with your own words and definitions
Preview
Personalize Your Design
Your Word
Your Definition
An even more aggressive form of Ockham's Scythe, wielded specifically to destroy alternative explanations by severing them at the root. Where the scythe cuts away excess, the sword is used in active combat: it strikes at the foundational assumptions of a theory, demanding that they be justified in the simplest possible terms, then declaring victory when they cannot be reduced without distortion. Ockham's sword is a common tool in online debates, where one side attempts to "slay" the opponent's position by demanding absurd levels of parsimony. It values victory over understanding.
Text fits
Save
Cancel