You can't really. If they start deconstructing words they're arguing in bad faith. Even if you can point out that it's a malicious attempt to derail the argument the argument has already been derailed and they'll just bring out the next thing even if you can keep focus.
You can sarcastically change the phrasing to something so specific it's absurd, hopefully shaming them and deflating their effort. Then if they argue back you can claim the absurdity was a ploy, a joke and they're stupid. At best you walk away with the upper hand but having failed to make a compelling argument.
You can't really. If they start deconstructing words they're arguing in bad faith. Even if you can point out that it's a malicious attempt to derail the argument the argument has already been derailed and they'll just bring out the next thing even if you can keep focus.
You can sarcastically change the phrasing to something so specific it's absurd, hopefully shaming them and deflating their effort. Then if they argue back you can claim the absurdity was a ploy, a joke and they're stupid. At best you walk away with the upper hand but having failed to make a compelling argument.
i usually just resort to trolling when they derail. might as well one up them and make them look like a buffoon