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 purple
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 verbal
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rhetorical
President Trump brought not only rhetorical pressure on Panama with his vows to take it back, but also got congressional Republicans on board to draft the Panama Canal Repurchase Act, which was introduced by Representative Dusty Johnson (R., S.D.).
—
The Editors, National Review, 4 Feb. 2025
Tump was hardly alone in trying to turn the crash to political advantage, but even by this president’s rhetorical measures, this was a shameful performance.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2025
Clearly this was not the rhetorical strategy that Osit found most resonant for him, so maybe that’s the next step now that this conversational avenue has been established.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Jan. 2025
Chief Justice John Roberts, known for his rhetorical prowess, has long lamented that the media must summarize and translate the court’s lengthy opinions for the public.
—Jill Barton, The Conversation, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rhetorical 
The Editors, National Review, 4 Feb. 2025
Tump was hardly alone in trying to turn the crash to political advantage, but even by this president’s rhetorical measures, this was a shameful performance.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2025
Clearly this was not the rhetorical strategy that Osit found most resonant for him, so maybe that’s the next step now that this conversational avenue has been established.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Jan. 2025
Chief Justice John Roberts, known for his rhetorical prowess, has long lamented that the media must summarize and translate the court’s lengthy opinions for the public.
—Jill Barton, The Conversation, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rhetorical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rhetorical
Adjective
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Not merely because of his superior oratorical pizazz but also his remarkable style.—
Julian Randall,
Essence,
4 Dec. 2024
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Yes, but: Some Democrats argue that the debate will be less of a referendum on oratorical skill and more of a clash of two different styles and worldviews.—
Andrew Solender,
Axios,
1 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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As Earth's atmosphere is dominated by nitrogen and oxygen, the aurorae tend to give off a blue–pink–purple light (from the former) and a green hue (from the latter).—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
14 Feb. 2025
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The giant purple beam atop the Golden 1 Center was becoming a fixture and not just a marketing gimmick.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacramento Bee,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The verbal notice came from HHS officials in a meeting with CDC leaders, according to a federal official who was at the meeting.—
Mike Stobbe,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Feb. 2025
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Keith allegedly initially ignored verbal commands to exit the vehicle and police used bean bag rounds to subdue him, court records said.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The prose is confiding and, in places, pontifical.—
Judith Thurman,
The New Yorker,
24 Aug. 2020
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That revelation, coupled with other recent pontifical critiques, have quickly dissolved the notion that the Dec. 31 death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, a symbolic leader of the church’s conservative wing, might lessen the opposition to Francis.—
Stefano Pitrelli,
Washington Post,
18 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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The decision to keep the choir wordless added to the universality of the emotion, avoiding any geographical or linguistic ties.—
Tiana DeNicola,
Variety,
7 Feb. 2025
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In a letter to distributors and partners that was obtained by CNN, Whitworth sounded patriotic more than a linguistic or practical note.—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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For too long, Big Pharma has filled the airwaves with tons of commercials to fuel demand for its products while failing to disclose the inflated, ever-increasing price of these medications.—
Dick Durbin,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2025
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While domestic sourcing may not always align with cost structures, exploring local alternatives can mitigate risks of delays and inflated costs.—
Lyric Christian,
Essence,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The Parthenon Marbles: The Case for Reunification By Christopher Hitchens Christopher Hitchens, among the most eloquent and forceful advocates of rejoining the Parthenon marbles, helped tilt me toward the cause of repatriation.—
Ralph Leonard,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2025
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They’re aided throughout by Bryce Dessner’s string score and eloquent, salt-of-the-earth narration from Will Patton (who also recorded the audiobook, repeating choice lines of Johnson’s at key moments here).—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Why would the same communicative behaviors evolve independently in whales and humans, whose last common ancestor was a shrewlike creature that lived roughly 100 million years ago?—
Cody Cottier,
Scientific American,
6 Feb. 2025
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On the same day, communicative Mercury and penetrating Pluto unite in Aquarius.—
Lisa Stardust,
refinery29.com,
27 Jan. 2025
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Thesaurus Entries Near rhetorical
Cite this Entry
“Rhetorical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rhetorical. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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