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
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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
As for the rhetorical attacks dominating the news, these mislead the public about what the Constitution requires.
—
Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
While both candidates held progressive policy positions on issues like healthcare, the difference between them centered on communication style, with Talarico’s softer rhetorical approach resonating with voters through appeals to unity and a vision of hope[1].
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
That restraint was evident during Iran’s conflict with Israel last year and subsequent US aerial attacks, when China similarly only offered rhetorical support.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 4 Mar. 2026
Notwithstanding his rhetorical mistake in Atlanta, any future attacks that come from the tour will hold little water given his track record.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rhetorical
Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
While both candidates held progressive policy positions on issues like healthcare, the difference between them centered on communication style, with Talarico’s softer rhetorical approach resonating with voters through appeals to unity and a vision of hope[1].
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
That restraint was evident during Iran’s conflict with Israel last year and subsequent US aerial attacks, when China similarly only offered rhetorical support.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 4 Mar. 2026
Notwithstanding his rhetorical mistake in Atlanta, any future attacks that come from the tour will hold little water given his track record.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 26 Feb. 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 ryokan-style resort blends imperial heritage—think ornate Meiji-era latticework, intimate courtyards, and meticulous Zen gardens—with sleek, soothing contemporary design.—
Kelsey Eisen,
Robb Report,
19 Mar. 2026
-
For a long time, the property gleamed in the daylight with its white, ornate facade against lush green landscaping and often at night, as well, with twinkling holiday lights attached to almost every surface.—
Heather McRea,
Oc Register,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Kang noted that Demon Hunters’ visual style was consciously shaped by her lifelong love of anime and manhwa — Korean comics and graphic novels — and executed with careful attention to Korean linguistic and cultural nuances, even though the film’s lingua franca is American English.—
Dan Bilefsky,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Human English contains persistent, if subtle, linguistic patterns of variation and readability.—
Laura Aull,
The Conversation,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
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In its report, the pontifical commission highlights failures in the Italian church.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Or the manhole cover, framed with gentle arcs of purple and yellow moth orchids, yellow slipper orchids and pink and white Dancing Lady orchids.—
Jennifer Vanasco,
NPR,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Meanwhile, the vistas of Tau Ceti outside the window are intimidating and gorgeous, with cinematographer Greig Fraser indulging in showers of purple glitter.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Traffic offenses accounted for two-thirds of tickets issued, and verbal assault and property theft were the most common forms of victimization.—
Katie Jackson,
Outside,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The season expansion is one dimension of the verbal agreement between WNBA owners and players, solidified in the early hours of Wednesday morning after more than a week of nonstop negotiations.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The straight-A students, in other words, likely have parents with straight-A portfolios, but both end up with B- or even C-level experiences in this inflated economy.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
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Introduced in season 4 and continuing through the final fifth season, Vince is a naturally gifted athlete who struggles with an inflated ego when colleges start recruiting him.—
Ken Simmons,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 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
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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 24 Mar. 2026.
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