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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rhetorical
In his call, Howie rode the rhetorical surplus of the inning’s rising action into the denouement of Alonso’s homer.
—
Joshua Dubler, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile, this argument goes, the Administration reaps political benefit by picking fights on base-friendly issues such as immigration and transgender rights, and by waging rhetorical war against judges.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025
Longest speech becomes rhetorical brawl The speech quickly became a reflection of a divided nation, with Trump haranguing the liberal opposition in Congress and multiple Democrats launching protests throughout.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
Understanding the rhetorical power of warning Americans that they are being played for suckers, at a personal and visceral level, was part of the winning strategy of the 2016 Trump candidacy.
—Tess Wilkinson-Ryan, TIME, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rhetorical
Joshua Dubler, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile, this argument goes, the Administration reaps political benefit by picking fights on base-friendly issues such as immigration and transgender rights, and by waging rhetorical war against judges.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025
Longest speech becomes rhetorical brawl The speech quickly became a reflection of a divided nation, with Trump haranguing the liberal opposition in Congress and multiple Democrats launching protests throughout.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
Understanding the rhetorical power of warning Americans that they are being played for suckers, at a personal and visceral level, was part of the winning strategy of the 2016 Trump candidacy.
—Tess Wilkinson-Ryan, TIME, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rhetorical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rhetorical
Adjective
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Chicago-based like the Jacksons — the play originated at the Steppenwolf Theater Company in that city — they, too, are headed by an oratorical pastor who, in his youth, worked closely with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—
Jesse Green,
New York Times,
18 Mar. 2025
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Thus enfranchised, Hackman took on Richard Harris’ elegant killer English Bob with gusto, mixing in a bravura oratorical gavotte with ample kicks to the ribs, and summoning the Best Supporting Actor trophy.—
Fred Schruers,
IndieWire,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Instead of the usual purple victory beam, the arena lit up with pyrotechnics as Papa Roach — one of the biggest rock acts to emerge from the Sacramento area — took the stage in what felt like a musical slam dunk.—
Chris Macias,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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As its name suggests, hyaluronic acid plays a heavy role in its hydrating effects, but other skin-plumping ingredients at work include licorice root and purple rice extracts, two antioxidant-rich ingredients that hydrate while brightening skin and evening tone.—
Jennifer Hussein,
Allure,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The Hurricanes on Saturday received a verbal commitment from four-star cornerback Jontavius Wyman, flipping the Jonesboro, Georgia, native from the Georgia Bulldogs.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 2025
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Use clear verbal and written instructions for tasks.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
4 Apr. 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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Not to anyone who has ever sat through a lousy production of the play, perhaps at college, and found the character’s linguistic errors—his trademark—to be about as funny as athlete’s foot.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2025
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While Google Translate has long facilitated linguistic cross-pollination, a more subtle translation is needed now – one that transcends words and dives into the fabric of thoughts, feelings and aspirations.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Many projects that were celebrated during bull markets are now facing existential crises, unable to justify their inflated valuations.—
Max (Chong) Li,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
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Styles is frequently captured by paparazzi wearing Anderson’s designs, such as a navy bomber jacket filled with enough puffer insulation to create an inflated silhouette.—
Rebecca Mead,
The New Yorker,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Many northern journalists and editorial boards cast civil rights protests in their own cities as dangerous and extreme, even when it was called out in the eloquent tones of Martin Luther King Jr. himself.—
Made by History,
Time,
4 Apr. 2025
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Charles Kenny, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development, has been an eloquent exponent of this general view.—
Dylan Matthews,
Vox,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Lewis said city crews were helpful and communicative.—
Michelle L. Quinn,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Mar. 2025
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Ornithologist Richard Prum also takes a communicative view of art, but one where art is meant to be evaluated for its beauty.—
Shawn Simpson,
The Conversation,
19 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rhetorical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rhetorical. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.
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