stuggery

Stuggery is a term used in online discourse to describe a pattern of argumentative behavior in which a participant persistently resists acknowledging counter-evidence, shifts criteria, or uses evasive rhetoric to prevent the resolution of a debate. It is typically used descriptively to characterize a style rather than to diagnose an individual, and it can refer to a single tactic or an overall approach to discussion.

Etymology: The precise origin of stuggery is uncertain. The term appears in English-language forums and commentary in the early 2020s and is commonly treated as a loosely formed noun describing behavior. It is often viewed as a portmanteau-like construction derived from “stubborn” combined with the -ery suffix used to name patterns of conduct, similar to other informal coinages in online discourse.

Usage and examples: Stuggery frequently surfaces in political or policy debates, commentary podcasts, and comment sections. Tactics associated with stuggery may include demanding unattainable proof, shifting goalposts, circular reasoning, and meta-arguing about definitions rather than addressing substantive claims. Example: “The speaker engaged in stuggery by refusing to concede the point and repeatedly redefining terms to avoid agreement.” Another instance is when a participant continuously questions the premise while ignoring disconfirming evidence.

See also: Gaslighting; moving the goalposts; derailment; rhetorical fallacies; equivocation.