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
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 rhetoric
The company has faced brand and reputational damage in the past year, largely due to Musk's incendiary rhetoric and political activity.
—
Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 26 June 2025
Online, Mamdani has also faced increasing Islamophobic rhetoric from right-wing commentators and politicians.
—Angela Yang, NBC news, 26 June 2025
The New York Times reported in May that 162 judges received threats in the six weeks after March 1, coinciding with harsh rhetoric criticizing judges who have ruled against the administration.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 26 June 2025
That sort of rhetoric might land better coming from a more traditional teachers union focused mainly on the classroom, but not from this messianic group of ultra-leftists.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rhetoric
Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 26 June 2025
Online, Mamdani has also faced increasing Islamophobic rhetoric from right-wing commentators and politicians.
—Angela Yang, NBC news, 26 June 2025
The New York Times reported in May that 162 judges received threats in the six weeks after March 1, coinciding with harsh rhetoric criticizing judges who have ruled against the administration.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 26 June 2025
That sort of rhetoric might land better coming from a more traditional teachers union focused mainly on the classroom, but not from this messianic group of ultra-leftists.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rhetoric
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rhetoric
Noun
-
The bill also underwent more changes in a last-minute replacement version, including the removal of a punishing tax on wind and solar energy as well as a pareback of the bill’s cuts to clean energy subsidies.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
1 July 2025
-
Composting in overly wet areas can slow down the composting process and lead to smelly compost. Locations that are exposed to strong winds can also be challenging to compost in and should be avoided if possible.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
For decades, hip-hop artists have turned pain into poetry, struggle into style, and now, lyrics into liquidity.—
Kori Hale,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
Sang-wol has been using the money garnered from Ro-sa’s poetry book sales to fund a college scholarship.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
All of this exploring and staying open and slow-burn nonsense left us with half the villa coupled up but stagnant — unwilling to stray but unwilling to grow — and the other half hopelessly single.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
25 June 2025
-
Sadly, the label would have none of that experimental nonsense.—
Ernesto Lechner,
Rolling Stone,
21 June 2025
Noun
-
Iran approved the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and gas route.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
26 June 2025
-
Buc-ee’s has pitched building 120 gas pumps and 12 charging stations for electric vehicles on the property.—
Sofi Zeman,
Kansas City Star,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
Essence Fest and Economic Impact of Local Reinvestment New Orleans’ history as the birthplace of jazz provides credibility that enriches every experience, and the results speak to this precision.—
Sughnen Yongo,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
-
The group was revolutionary for its time, not only for its blend of psychedelic rock, soul, jazz, gospel and Latin influences but also for its lineup.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
As for any hint of bombast, by the standards of CBGBs, Talking Heads played at a volume that was nothing short of demure.—
Rolling Stone,
Rolling Stone,
16 June 2025
-
Despite the lack of bombast, The Alters tells a compelling and heartfelt narrative, with some goofier moments to break up the unrelenting drama.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
14 June 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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 10 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share