Which term describes an assertion that something is more or less likely true in relation to a claim?

The correct term that describes an assertion indicating that something is more or less likely true in relation to a claim is a "fortiori argument." This type of argument is commonly used in logic and debate to assert that if a certain claim holds true in one scenario, it should also be true in another scenario that is deemed even stronger or more persuasive. Essentially, a fortiori reasoning suggests that if something is true in a less favorable context, it should certainly be true in a more favorable one.

For instance, if it is argued that a small child can play safely in a park, then it follows a fortiori that an adult can certainly do so. The strength of the argument derives from the relationship between the two claims and their comparative likelihood of being true. This aligns perfectly with the question, as the focus is on the likelihood related to claims and how one can infer from one situation to another.

In contrast, mixed metaphor refers to a combination of metaphors that leads to confusion, syntactic ambiguity involves a situation where a sentence can be interpreted in multiple ways due to its structure, and analogy is a comparison between two things for the purpose of explanation or clarification. None of these terms pertain to the likelihood of an assertion in relation to a claim