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
Synonyms
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
Yet Biden administration officials have not espoused the same explicitly anti-media rhetoric as Trump and his top allies have for years.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024
His harsh stance on immigration and refugees echoes the same xenophobic rhetoric that has fueled fear and division across the globe.
—Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Officials in both countries know that Trump is a dealmaker, and some believe the conduct of his presidency will ultimately be less harsh than his rhetoric.
—Brian Winter, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2024
Regardless, Reagan’s winning rhetoric — largely crafted by Khachigian — lives on today through Trump.
—George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rhetoric 
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Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024
His harsh stance on immigration and refugees echoes the same xenophobic rhetoric that has fueled fear and division across the globe.
—Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Officials in both countries know that Trump is a dealmaker, and some believe the conduct of his presidency will ultimately be less harsh than his rhetoric.
—Brian Winter, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2024
Regardless, Reagan’s winning rhetoric — largely crafted by Khachigian — lives on today through Trump.
—George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rhetoric
Dictionary Entries Near rhetoric
Cite this Entry
“Rhetoric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhetoric. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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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