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
National rhetoric seeking to cast doubt on election security in general, despite state and local administration, is concerning, Thomas said.
—
Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 12 Feb. 2026
The new mayor is fond of his On the Waterfront rhetoric, and tends to suggest that, before the socialists came to power, city government was dismissive of the poor and working class.
—Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
But the presidential rhetoric has nonetheless limited the ability of the stocks to recover.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
There’s a portion of this country that is sick and twisted and MAGA has been a great vehicle for them, but then there’s also a big portion of the country that just got caught up in the lies and the bull— and the rhetoric.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rhetoric
Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 12 Feb. 2026
The new mayor is fond of his On the Waterfront rhetoric, and tends to suggest that, before the socialists came to power, city government was dismissive of the poor and working class.
—Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
But the presidential rhetoric has nonetheless limited the ability of the stocks to recover.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
There’s a portion of this country that is sick and twisted and MAGA has been a great vehicle for them, but then there’s also a big portion of the country that just got caught up in the lies and the bull— and the rhetoric.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rhetoric
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rhetoric
Noun
-
Northern California has seen an array of cold weather over the past week from winter storms to strong winds.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
Updated February 20,
Sacbee.com,
21 Feb. 2026
-
For applications like grid storage (solar farms, wind balancing), that’s extremely valuable.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Worse even than poetry with a palpable design on us, as Keats didn’t quite say, is poetry that puts its hands in its breeches pockets and delivers a lecture in the expectation of applause.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
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Jamie Lloyd has anchored Shakespeare’s profoundly romantic poetry and comedy at the heart of this production, and decorated the play with music, dancing, love, and laughter.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But the jumble of words coming out of Harper’s mouth is nonsense.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
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Aside from how much human assistance the AIs had, the vast bulk of the submissions appear to be a lot of very convincing nonsense.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
On even longer timescales, the remnant black holes that were created, whether from stellar explosions, neutron star mergers, a collapsing gas cloud, or having grown into supermassive behemoths, will all evaporate.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Feb. 2026
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Trump has long touted – and exaggerated – the effects of lower gas prices.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Pupping, founder and director of the Encinitas Guitar Orchestra (now in its 23rd season), brings his eclectic mastery of classical, jazz, world music, rock, and pop, honed through studies with members of the legendary Los Romeros Guitar Quartet.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
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There’s a superb jazz festival in mid-June too; so while the town may be a favorite with yacht owners sailing here from Nice, Calvi itself remains humble, curious and just about the finest place in France to settle in for the day with a glass of local Muscat and a view of mountain and ocean.—
Rob Crossan,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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His toughness, off-the-cuff oratory skills and preference for coaching defense all come from the man whose traits were forged in a northeastern Pennsylvania town his family has called home for more than a century.—
Ben Bolch,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2026
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King’s ability to take ideas from White preachers’ bland sermons and convert them to stirring oratory was part of his genius, Miller says.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Too big, too flashy, too red, too everything — a tacky pile of bombast in the vein of the Fontainebleau Hotel.—
Christopher Robbins,
Curbed,
9 Feb. 2026
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And Geoff Zanelli’s score ranges effectively from ominous electronica to fun orchestral bombast.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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 22 Feb. 2026.
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