1
as in wind
language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere
the mayor's promise to fight drugs was just rhetoric, since there was no money in the city budget for a drug program
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in poetry
the art or power of speaking or writing in a forceful and convincing way
great leaders have often been masters of rhetoric, which they have used for both good and ill
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of rhetoric
Assessing right intent is hard, but a government’s conduct and rhetoric can offer clues.
—
Valerie Morkevicius, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2026
With several state attorneys general up for election this year, the negative political rhetoric will likely continue into the fall.
—Justin Zacks, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
But this lull in anti-vaccine rhetoric and action should not be mistaken for a durable pivot in federal vaccine policy.
—Will Walters, STAT, 23 Apr. 2026
Endorsements of Jeffries’ rhetoric and strategy have not been free-flowing from Ocasio-Cortez, a democratic socialist and prospective 2028 presidential contender, and her allies on the party’s left wing.
—Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rhetoric
Valerie Morkevicius, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2026
With several state attorneys general up for election this year, the negative political rhetoric will likely continue into the fall.
—Justin Zacks, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
But this lull in anti-vaccine rhetoric and action should not be mistaken for a durable pivot in federal vaccine policy.
—Will Walters, STAT, 23 Apr. 2026
Endorsements of Jeffries’ rhetoric and strategy have not been free-flowing from Ocasio-Cortez, a democratic socialist and prospective 2028 presidential contender, and her allies on the party’s left wing.
—Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rhetoric
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rhetoric
Noun
-
The fire moved north from Oceanside Boulevard toward the El Corazon Senior Center, with wind and terrain helping fuel its spread.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
An icy wind blew through the buckled windows.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The album explores themes of love, betrayal, and Black identity, blending music, poetry, and film.—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Each session features a different theme, and no poetry writing experience is necessary.—
Staff report,
Daily News,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The mother had died of tuberculosis the previous year and there were no siblings, which was a tremendous benefit in my mother’s eyes—no one to fill her ears with nonsense.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Apr. 2026
-
After the usual avalanche of draft-week nonsense, and enough misinformation to fog up half the league, the noise gives way to the decisions.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This approach eliminates the federal gas and diesel taxes, lowering gas prices and reducing the pain at the pump.—
Andrew Stasiowski,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The price of gas has risen more than 30% since the start of the war.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Long recognized as a cornerstone of Kansas City’s Black cultural and musical history, the district provides a setting that connects contemporary artists to a legacy rooted in jazz, blues and R&B, while also embracing newer forms such as hip-hop and spoken word.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Drummer Charlie Watts, the group’s newest member, a jazz aficionado and an accomplished percussionist, propelled the music forward with a rock-solid beat.—
Marc Ballon,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Others are former legacy news anchors, who have gained traction by slinging challenging oratory.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The Catholic Church’s work with young people in Italy largely relies on oratories, parish spaces where children and teenagers gather after school for sports and recreational activities.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Eye-rolling over Gorka’s bombast has given way to anxiety about the administration’s preparedness to identify and stop major plots.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
21 Apr. 2026
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The bombast of the song clashes with the aloofness of her style.—
Stephen Kearse,
Pitchfork,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Freed of the architectural fustian of the Frick’s Gilded Age home, the art breathes anew, each painting in its own world rather than entwined with others as part of a decorative ensemble.—
Philip Kennicott,
Washington Post,
6 June 2023
Cite this Entry
“Rhetoric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rhetoric. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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