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
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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
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Recent Examples of rhetoric
This rhetoric reinforces Tehran's longstanding narrative that its resistance against Western and Israeli pressure is a matter of national survival.
—
Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025
The observation cuts through corporate rhetoric and exposes how being neutral itself can become a form of complicity.
—Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
Her rhetoric in the current campaign indicates little promise of causing serious offense to corporate interests, which will be reassured by her pledge to refuse to sign any bill repealing the state’s anti-union right-to-work law.
—Andrew Cockburn, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Some observers argue that each side is responding to the other’s rhetoric, and the escalation represents a game of mutual deterrence.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rhetoric
Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025
The observation cuts through corporate rhetoric and exposes how being neutral itself can become a form of complicity.
—Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
Her rhetoric in the current campaign indicates little promise of causing serious offense to corporate interests, which will be reassured by her pledge to refuse to sign any bill repealing the state’s anti-union right-to-work law.
—Andrew Cockburn, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Some observers argue that each side is responding to the other’s rhetoric, and the escalation represents a game of mutual deterrence.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rhetoric
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rhetoric
Noun
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California and many other states have also embraced wind and solar power while prematurely retiring perfectly operational coal and nuclear power plants.—
Chris Talgo,
Boston Herald,
13 July 2025
-
High winds can cause enough stress that sprouts stop growing.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 July 2025
Noun
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Here’s a special selection of fantastic novels from Kenyan authors representing fresh perspectives on the human condition across poetry, fiction and nonfiction.—
Wanjeri Gakuru
July 11,
Literary Hub,
11 July 2025
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Coal miners have a long tradition creating poetry and music related to their job, settlement officials said.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
11 July 2025
Noun
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That's nonsense… and anyone who's been a part of these productions knows that IN FACT the opposite is true.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
9 July 2025
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The song was essentially one long joke about animal noises, and once the joke wore off, what remained was an insanely repetitive chorus of nonsense.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
Noun
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The Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act overemphasized renewable energy over oil and gas.—
Ariel Cohen,
Forbes.com,
20 July 2025
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The oil and gas industry, which has averaged nearly $3 billion in profit per day, could have covered those losses without breaking a sweat.—
Chris Lee,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 July 2025
Noun
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The record spans 11-tracks, drawing from ambient, classical, jazz, and various electronic genres.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
18 July 2025
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Courses include dance appreciation, ballet, jazz, modern, tap, hip hop, choreography, pedagogy and production and performance, the release said.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
18 July 2025
Noun
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Hugo would likely have been repelled and fascinated by Trump’s demagoguery, his rambling mendacity, his grammatically illogical but easy-to-follow oratory.—
Graham Robb,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2025
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Her brand at the time was something like the Obama of the antipodes: a liberal media darling, icon of the global anti-Trump resistance, transitioning smoothly from lofty oratory to easygoing relatability.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
Noun
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The chorus is essentially one word (peaches) repeated incessantly with operatic bombast.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
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You’ll be treated to swank surroundings and a surprisingly refined and nuanced meal filled with bombast and a hint of down-to-earth charm from its culinary director, Ben Martinek (formerly of Montage Laguna Beach’s Loft and Studio).—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
3 June 2025
Noun
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Much of that singularity was centered in McCarthy’s prose, which ricocheted—sometimes gracefully, sometimes jarringly—between gruff matter-of-factness and soaring, biblical grandiloquence.—
Alex Shephard,
The New Republic,
13 June 2023
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Several of them can fly, and all have at least a touch of grandiloquence to them.—
Michael Nordine,
Variety,
11 Aug. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Rhetoric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rhetoric. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
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