What is the defining characteristic of a 'straw man' fallacy?

The defining characteristic of a 'straw man' fallacy is misrepresenting an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack. Instead of addressing the actual argument being made, the straw man fallacy involves creating a distorted or simplified version of the argument and then attacking that weaker version. This misrepresentation makes it appear as though the original argument has been refuted, when in fact, only a fabricated version has been addressed. The 'straw man' argument is easier to knock down because it does not accurately reflect the opponent's position.