variants
also rhetoric
1
as in oratorical
marked by the use of impressive-sounding but mostly meaningless words and phrases
you can skip over the rhetorical passages and still get the gist of the essay
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in purple
full of fine words and fancy expressions
the new governor delivered a long rhetorical speech about our state's bright future but laid out no specific programs for ensuring it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in verbal
of or relating to words or language
the next war that those two nations fight won't be rhetorical—it will be with bombs and bullets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rhetorical
Overshadowing the endorsement was a foolhardy rhetorical flourish that insulted key voting blocs courted by the Republican nominee in his campaign against the Democratic nominee, New York Governor Grover Cleveland.
—
Robert B. Mitchell / Made By History, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024
The most effective leaders use various rhetorical techniques and literary devices, designed to create rapid understanding and buy-in of their strategies.
—Sherzod Odilov, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
More important than any algorithmic scaling law, then, might be a rhetorical scaling law: bold prediction leading to lavish investment that requires a still-more-outlandish prediction, and so on.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2024
The rhetorical bundle of arguments that the system is corrupt can be captured by both the left and the right.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rhetorical 
Robert B. Mitchell / Made By History, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024
The most effective leaders use various rhetorical techniques and literary devices, designed to create rapid understanding and buy-in of their strategies.
—Sherzod Odilov, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
More important than any algorithmic scaling law, then, might be a rhetorical scaling law: bold prediction leading to lavish investment that requires a still-more-outlandish prediction, and so on.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2024
The rhetorical bundle of arguments that the system is corrupt can be captured by both the left and the right.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rhetorical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rhetorical
Adjective
-
Yes, but: Some Democrats argue that the debate will be less of a referendum on oratorical skill and more of a clash of two different styles and worldviews.Andrew Solender, Axios, 1 Oct. 2024
-
Trump’s general-election debates have not exactly been the stuff of oratorical legend.Matthew Continetti, National Review, 14 Sep. 2024
Adjective
-
And Democrats kept a purple Orange County district that was up for grabs after Rep. Katie Porter left the seat to run unsuccessfully for Senate this year.Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
-
While the Princess of Wales paired the cross with a velvet purple floor-length dress by Catherine Walker, Kardashian opted to marry the 5.25-carat necklace with pearl chokers and an ivory shawl cape.Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
From March 2020 to December 2021, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the country reported nearly 11,000 hate incidents, including verbal and physical abuse, being coughed at or spat on, and facing discrimination in the workplace.Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
-
The city will also host a public meeting to receive verbal comments on the matter on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 4:30 p.m. at the Linda Callon Conference Room in city hall.Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
The prose is confiding and, in places, pontifical.Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2020
-
That revelation, coupled with other recent pontifical critiques, have quickly dissolved the notion that the Dec. 31 death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, a symbolic leader of the church’s conservative wing, might lessen the opposition to Francis.Stefano Pitrelli, Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
The open-wheelers are collectively pushing back on a linguistic crackdown by the sport’s governing body.Melvin Backman, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
-
Elevating their linguistic toolkit can help leaders more effectively embody their potential and inspire their teams.Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Oasis announces North America tour dates for summer 2025 00:39 These measures were implemented in an effort to curb ticket scalping, or reselling tickets at inflated prices for profit.Daysia Tolentino, NBC News, 30 Oct. 2024
-
The inflated cost for some spare parts means others can’t be bought, and the readiness of the plane to fly missions could be affected.Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
This is Lorde at her sharpest, most eloquent, and certainly most tantalizing.Vogue, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2024
-
One video image of a highway at night was more eloquent than anything in the lead-up to Johnny’s Greyhound getaway.Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
Furthermore, leaders must be transparent and communicative throughout the ERP implementation process.Miguel Llorca, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024
-
Be clear and communicative about what turns you on.Lexi Petronis, Glamour, 10 Oct. 2024
Articles Related to rhetorical
Thesaurus Entries Near rhetorical
Cite this Entry
“Rhetorical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rhetorical. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share