View synonyms for rhetorical

rhetorical

[ ri-tawr-i-kuhl, -tor- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

used for, belonging to, or concerned with mere style or effect, rather than truth, substance, or meaning:
Her bold and ingenious analogies, although engaging, are purely rhetorical, adding nothing to our understanding of the issue.
Synonyms: oratorical, stylistic, verbal
marked by or tending to use exaggerated language or bombast:
Fortunately, the rebel leaders did not have the military power to follow through on their fiery rhetorical eruptions.
of, relating to, or concerned with rhetoric, or the skillful use of language to persuade people:
She had spent hours with her advisors discussing rhetorical strategy, and now it was time to deliver the speech.
of, relating to, or in reference to a rhetorical question:
No need to respond—that was rhetorical.

rhetorical

/ rɪˈtɒrɪkəl /

First recorded in 1470–80; from Latin rhētoric(us) (from Greek rhētorikós ) + -al ¹

But politicians abhor a rhetorical vacuum, and they have clamored to fill it.

Its rhetorical potential—if it ever had any—has been thoroughly exhausted.

It was a gracious touch, a rhetorical olive branch to his vanquished foes.

Yet the president uses it for rhetorical vividness—a clarity, as it were.

But this new flavor of rhetorical flimflam is still pretty, well, whack.

The style of Sallust is brilliant, but his art is always apparent; he is clear and lively, but rhetorical.

To every one he said a hearty thing, and sometimes touched his greeting off with a bit of poetry or a rhetorical phrase.

Lynn was a humored, wayward child, and this cold severity did more to quiet him than an hour's rhetorical pleading.

Milton gives us a rhetorical definition in a negative form, which is of equal value, at least, with any authority yet cited.

His clutch on the letter was distinctly inquisitive, and he read out the opening sentences with almost rhetorical effect.

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