rhetoric
noun
rhet·o·ric
ˈre-tə-rik 
1
: the art of speaking or writing effectively: such as
a
: the study of principles and rules of composition formulated by critics of ancient times
b
: the study of writing or speaking as a means of communication or persuasion
2
a
: skill in the effective use of speech
b
: a type or mode of language or speech
also
: insincere or grandiloquent language
Examples of rhetoric in a Sentence
The media almost never discuss what the sweeping dismantling of public services inherent in the rhetoric of the antigovernment movement would mean in practice.
—
E. J. Dionne, Jr., Commonweal, 20 Nov. 2009
What they are in reality are the romantic words of a man who needs glorious rhetoric to cover up murderous reality.
—Pete Hamill, Cosmopolitan, April 1976
No speech could have been more thoroughly honest in its intention: the frigid rhetoric at the end was as sincere as the bark of a dog, or the cawing of an amorous rook.
—George Eliot, Middlemarch, 1872
Otherwise he might have been a great general, blowing up all sorts of towns, or he might have been a great politician, dealing in all sorts of parliamentary rhetoric; but as it was, he and the Court of Chancery had fallen upon each other in the pleasantest way, and nobody was much the worse …
—Charles Dickens, Bleak House, 1852-53
a college course in rhetoric
the mayor's promise to fight drugs was just rhetoric, since there was no money in the city budget for a drug program
E. J. Dionne, Jr., Commonweal, 20 Nov. 2009
What they are in reality are the romantic words of a man who needs glorious rhetoric to cover up murderous reality.
—Pete Hamill, Cosmopolitan, April 1976
No speech could have been more thoroughly honest in its intention: the frigid rhetoric at the end was as sincere as the bark of a dog, or the cawing of an amorous rook.
—George Eliot, Middlemarch, 1872
Otherwise he might have been a great general, blowing up all sorts of towns, or he might have been a great politician, dealing in all sorts of parliamentary rhetoric; but as it was, he and the Court of Chancery had fallen upon each other in the pleasantest way, and nobody was much the worse …
—Charles Dickens, Bleak House, 1852-53
a college course in rhetoric
the mayor's promise to fight drugs was just rhetoric, since there was no money in the city budget for a drug program
Recent Examples on the Web
Trump’s election confirmed, to some on the Left, that the country really was as bad as some of their harshest rhetoric suggested.
—Alexander Nazaryan, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025
Too often, the concept of second chances consists of hollow rhetoric and hurtful stigma.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 21 Mar. 2025
An evaluation of Trump’s past rhetoric and actions and the FCPA’s benefits for American business suggests that foreign corruption enforcement is not going anywhere soon.
—Robert Anello, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Trump and the replacement of Judaism with Israel In his personal rhetoric, Trump draws a clear distinction between the American Jews who support him (good) and the liberal American Jews who oppose him (bad).
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rhetoric
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Alexander Nazaryan, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025
Too often, the concept of second chances consists of hollow rhetoric and hurtful stigma.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 21 Mar. 2025
An evaluation of Trump’s past rhetoric and actions and the FCPA’s benefits for American business suggests that foreign corruption enforcement is not going anywhere soon.
—Robert Anello, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Trump and the replacement of Judaism with Israel In his personal rhetoric, Trump draws a clear distinction between the American Jews who support him (good) and the liberal American Jews who oppose him (bad).
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rhetoric
Cite this Entry
“Rhetoric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhetoric. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rhetoric
noun
rhet·o·ric
ˈret-ə-rik
1
: the art of speaking or writing effectively
2
: the study or use of the principles and rules of composition
3
a
: skill in the effective use of speech
b
: language that is not honest, sincere, or meaningful
rhetorician
noun
ˌret-ə-ˈrish-ən
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