rhetoric
noun
rhet·o·ric
ˈre-tə-rik 
1
: the art of speaking or writing effectively: such as
a
: the study of principles and rules of composition formulated by critics of ancient times
b
: the study of writing or speaking as a means of communication or persuasion
2
a
: skill in the effective use of speech
b
: a type or mode of language or speech
also
: insincere or grandiloquent language
Synonyms
Examples of rhetoric in a Sentence
The media almost never discuss what the sweeping dismantling of public services inherent in the rhetoric of the antigovernment movement would mean in practice.
—
E. J. Dionne, Jr., Commonweal, 20 Nov. 2009
What they are in reality are the romantic words of a man who needs glorious rhetoric to cover up murderous reality.
—Pete Hamill, Cosmopolitan, April 1976
No speech could have been more thoroughly honest in its intention: the frigid rhetoric at the end was as sincere as the bark of a dog, or the cawing of an amorous rook.
—George Eliot, Middlemarch, 1872
Otherwise he might have been a great general, blowing up all sorts of towns, or he might have been a great politician, dealing in all sorts of parliamentary rhetoric; but as it was, he and the Court of Chancery had fallen upon each other in the pleasantest way, and nobody was much the worse …
—Charles Dickens, Bleak House, 1852-53
a college course in rhetoric
the mayor's promise to fight drugs was just rhetoric, since there was no money in the city budget for a drug program
E. J. Dionne, Jr., Commonweal, 20 Nov. 2009
What they are in reality are the romantic words of a man who needs glorious rhetoric to cover up murderous reality.
—Pete Hamill, Cosmopolitan, April 1976
No speech could have been more thoroughly honest in its intention: the frigid rhetoric at the end was as sincere as the bark of a dog, or the cawing of an amorous rook.
—George Eliot, Middlemarch, 1872
Otherwise he might have been a great general, blowing up all sorts of towns, or he might have been a great politician, dealing in all sorts of parliamentary rhetoric; but as it was, he and the Court of Chancery had fallen upon each other in the pleasantest way, and nobody was much the worse …
—Charles Dickens, Bleak House, 1852-53
a college course in rhetoric
the mayor's promise to fight drugs was just rhetoric, since there was no money in the city budget for a drug program
Recent Examples on the Web
In this upcoming moment of truth for Illinois, the speaker has the opportunity to give power to that rhetoric, which many on the GOP side don’t believe for a minute.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025
However, much of the rhetoric online around looters seems steeped in racist sentiment.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2025
Especially as Chinese companies partner with Greenland for resource extraction, the rhetoric from Trump may very likely backfire.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
Tensions are high, rhetoric is sharp, and Baltimore, like many urban centers across the country, sits squarely in the crosshairs of a political showdown.
—Christopher Anderson, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rhetoric 
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The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025
However, much of the rhetoric online around looters seems steeped in racist sentiment.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2025
Especially as Chinese companies partner with Greenland for resource extraction, the rhetoric from Trump may very likely backfire.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
Tensions are high, rhetoric is sharp, and Baltimore, like many urban centers across the country, sits squarely in the crosshairs of a political showdown.
—Christopher Anderson, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rhetoric
Dictionary Entries Near rhetoric
Cite this Entry
“Rhetoric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhetoric. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rhetoric
noun
rhet·o·ric
ˈret-ə-rik
1
: the art of speaking or writing effectively
2
: the study or use of the principles and rules of composition
3
a
: skill in the effective use of speech
b
: language that is not honest, sincere, or meaningful
rhetorician
noun
ˌret-ə-ˈrish-ən
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