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 ornate
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 linguistic
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rhetorical
That marks a rhetorical shift, if not a complete change in strategy.
—
Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
The View From Annapolis Since Moore’s ascent to the governor’s mansion, he and his staff have been locked in a rhetorical battle with the Sun’s investigative arm over his record.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Building and construction unions no longer can use their old rhetorical cudgel in this debate — calling prefab homes flimsy and unsafe.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
By the time Turner gave his paper in Chicago in 1893, the myth of the frontier already had an irresistible pull in American culture, a simple rhetorical trajectory that made white men and women feel proud of themselves and their past.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rhetorical
Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
The View From Annapolis Since Moore’s ascent to the governor’s mansion, he and his staff have been locked in a rhetorical battle with the Sun’s investigative arm over his record.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Building and construction unions no longer can use their old rhetorical cudgel in this debate — calling prefab homes flimsy and unsafe.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
By the time Turner gave his paper in Chicago in 1893, the myth of the frontier already had an irresistible pull in American culture, a simple rhetorical trajectory that made white men and women feel proud of themselves and their past.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rhetorical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rhetorical
Adjective
-
That wasn’t Newsom’s only oratorical slip-up, although the second one says more about the larger Democratic Party than anything else.—
Douglas Schoen,
Oc Register,
26 Feb. 2026
-
With his height and his oratorical flourishes, Jackson was a charismatic figure who led protests in Greensboro.—
Johanna Neuman,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The interiors lean heavily into scale, with soaring ceilings, oversized windows, and ornate detailing throughout.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
24 Apr. 2026
-
With its rounded corners, lofty windows, and ornate façade, the building incorporates elements from many periods and architectural styles.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
And thus the audience is stuck with this scenario, which complicates in intensity and with a linguistic relish that has its funny moments (for some, anyway), but also features a lot of crudity that really wrenches you away from the typical landscape of the classy, urban American farce.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Speaking up, Scott says, may require some linguistic agility.—
Kristin Stoller,
Fortune,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That public spat has overshadowed his pontifical tour of four African countries, which ended Thursday with a Mass for thousands of people in Malabo, the former capital of Equatorial Guinea.—
Claudio Lavanga,
NBC news,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The bishops further authorized a new edition of the Roman Pontifical for pontifical Masses, expected to be completed by 2027, with Vatican approval pending for some rites, according to the Catholic News Agency.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Wildflowers such as purple lupines and red paintbrush color the landscape, and the lengthy days and warm, sunny weather mean more time for hiking.—
Zoe Baillargeon,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Pollen-free hybrids produce large flowerheads in a range of colors including white, red, yellow, orange, bicolor, and even purple.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Timberwolves lobbed verbal molotov cocktails at the Nuggets.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The report says cages for two of those living sloths did not meet regulations, so the owners received a verbal warning.—
Francie Ebert,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Even when companies genuinely believe in the long-term potential of their strategies, vague or inflated narratives can create legal exposure.—
Perrie M. Weiner,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
-
In addition to scapegoating Josh, Park is also implying that Lindsay inflated procedure prices and sold customers on unnecessary treatments at Trochos.—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
There was Coppola’s over-the-top defense of his friend with a grandiloquent gesture (Tanen declined to sell).—
Michael O’Donnell,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Reform—Within Reason Malthus aimed to puncture Godwin’s grandiloquent progressivism.—
Roy Scranton,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rhetorical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rhetorical. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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