terugreden

Terugreden is a Dutch verb meaning to respond to an argument by providing counterarguments or reasons in defense of one’s position. The word is formed from terug, meaning back or again, and reden, meaning to reason. In use, terugreden is relatively formal and is most often found in written, juridical, academic, or rhetorical contexts. In everyday speech, speakers may prefer terugargumenteren or verantwoorden to express responding with reasons.

The function of terugreden is to justify or defend a claim after it has been challenged, by offering new or additional reasons. It can also denote the act of counter-arguing, presenting reasons that oppose the opposing view. The nuance is that terugreden emphasizes the act of reasoning in response rather than merely acknowledging the objection.

Related terms include terugargumenteren (to counter-argue), redeneren (to reason), and verantwoorden (to account for or justify). In formal writing, terugreden may appear in discussions of debate, legal arguments, or philosophical discourse, where one is asked to give reasons for a position and to address objections. It reflects how verbal disagreements are often handled through the articulation of reasons rather than purely declarative statements.