Loaded question

Informal fallacies → Question-begging / premise

A loaded question sneaks in an opinion or an insult, so that answering it means agreeing to something you didn't say. It's not a neutral request for information—it assumes a contentious or negative claim. Answering "yes" or "no" can make you look bad either way, because the question itself is rigged. The problem is the bias built into the question, not the answer.

Examples

  • Why do you still waste money on that useless gym?

  • When will you stop lying to the committee?

  • How can you justify such a selfish decision?

  • Why do you insist on spreading these rumours?

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