Polemic

A polemic is a forceful argument or controversy made against one opinion, doctrine, or person. 

It is one-sided and extreme, not a debate or discussion. It often occurs in disputes. 

The word is derived from the Greek polemikos (πολεμικός),  meaning "warlike, hostile".Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (Merriam-Webster, Springfield, MA, 2005), s.v. "polemic"American College Dictionary (Random House, New York)  

History
Polemic journalism was common in continental Europe, when defamation laws were less strict as they are now. 

To support study of the polemics and controversies of the 17th-19th centuries, a British research project has placed thousands of pamphlets of that era online.

Related pages
Apologia
Critic
Devil's advocate
Dialectic
Dispute

Notes

References

Category:Communication
Category:Conflicts
Category:Rhetoric
Category:Social issues