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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of rhetorical
With examples drawn from Scripture and across the length of history, Paine commits rhetorical regicide.
—
Matthew Redmond
august 13, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
Or, with enough rhetorical swagger, a charismatic pro-immigration politician could provide them with facts that would convince them to support immigration policies whose benefits outweigh the costs to society.
—Alexander Kustov, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2025
That promise wasn’t just rhetoric.
—Amy Harclerode, New York Daily News, 8 Aug. 2025
Today, the Trump Administration is using similar rhetorical tropes to defend its aggressive deportation efforts.
—Time, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rhetorical
Matthew Redmond
august 13, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
Or, with enough rhetorical swagger, a charismatic pro-immigration politician could provide them with facts that would convince them to support immigration policies whose benefits outweigh the costs to society.
—Alexander Kustov, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2025
That promise wasn’t just rhetoric.
—Amy Harclerode, New York Daily News, 8 Aug. 2025
Today, the Trump Administration is using similar rhetorical tropes to defend its aggressive deportation efforts.
—Time, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rhetorical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rhetorical
Adjective
-
The Dallas area was a hotbed of competitive debate, and, at first, the oratorical polish of Kuang’s teammates was intimidating.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
18 Aug. 2025
-
Chicago-based like the Jacksons — the play originated at the Steppenwolf Theater Company in that city — they, too, are headed by an oratorical pastor who, in his youth, worked closely with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—
Jesse Green,
New York Times,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
With heartier, earthen purple corn?—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
-
There are deep blue- and purple-hued flowers, trees with gentle, weeping branches, shrubs soft to the touch.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
First-term presidential adviser Steve Bannon said Bessent and Elon Musk had a verbal confrontation that turned into a scuffle earlier this year.—
Sarah Fortinsky,
The Hill,
8 Sep. 2025
-
A day after Tart, 28, decided to hit Kelce, 35, in his facemask during the Chargers' 27-21 win, Tart took a verbal jab at the tight end on Instagram.—
Skyler Caruso,
People.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The sprawling roughly 2,000-year-old property includes ancient Roman archaeological sites, farmlands, pontifical villas and lush papal gardens, with areas for organic farming and regenerative cultivation.—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
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Related Articles For the past 40-plus years in the Philippines, Natori’s mother Angelita Cruz has been very close to the nuncios (who act as pontifical ambassadors), the designer said.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
18 June 2025
Adjective
-
The film casted exclusively from theater groups across different states to represent the linguistic diversity found in Indian prisons.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
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The right is being horrifyingly plain in bleating their bigotry, but they’re also lost in linguistic obscurities.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Years of delays and an inflated budget have damaged public and political faith in the project, but the past few years have seen progress—with construction happening throughout the state and tracklaying set to begin later this year.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
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With pickup trucks exceeding $100K in some instances and 7-passenger Luxury SUVs having a base price even higher, the need for a basic-entry-level commuter is today’s craze to offset the overpriced and inflated automobile market.—
Marc D. Grasso,
Boston Herald,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The rom-com canon receives a meaty and eloquent addition thanks to the acclaimed cast, consisting of Nicole Beharie, André Holland, and DeWanda Wise.—
Robyn Mowatt,
Essence,
9 Sep. 2025
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Even the man who wrote eloquent romantic soliloquies that have endured centuries still royally pissed off his wife on the regular.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The issue is that when touch is used purely for stimulation, this deeper communicative function is often overlooked.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Making sure leaders are accessible and communicative doesn’t end after onboarding.—
Roula Amire,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rhetorical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rhetorical. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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