Master confusing words with ease
Deductive vs. Inductive
Deductive
/dɪˈdʌktɪv/Examples:
The detective applied deductive reasoning to solve the mystery.Her conclusions are based on a deductive analysis of the data.Philosophers often employ deductive methods to derive truths.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Inductive
/ɪnˈdʌktɪv/Examples:
The detective relied on inductive reasoning to solve the case.Students learned the basics of inductive geometry in math class.She presented an inductive argument to support her hypothesis.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Deductive reasoning begins with a general statement or hypothesis and examines the possibilities to reach a specific, logical conclusion.
- Inductive reasoning starts with observations or data and then formulates a generalization or theory based on these observations.
- To remember deductive, think of it as de-constructing ideas down to specifics.
- Inductive is like in-ferring from examples to broader conclusions.
- Both are methods of reasoning, but deductive is top-down while inductive is bottom-up.
© 2025 Lithium Lab Pte Ltd