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
Our state should be the clearest and fiercest voice pushing back on Trump’s false, cruel and dangerous narratives about immigrants so that those in other states, where views on immigrants may be shaped more by Trump’s rhetoric than reality, can hear the truth about what diversity really means.
—Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024
On Tesla’s message board soliciting shareholder questions prior to the call, the dominant concern was Musk’s controversial rhetoric and tactics in supporting Donald Trump.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2024
The big picture: Separate reports and surveys suggest that Tesla's brand perception has been diminished by Musk's growing right-wing rhetoric.
—Hope King, Axios, 24 Oct. 2024
Too many Democrats appear convinced that a vigorous defense of trans rights would instantly cost them their elections, even though polls have shown for years that most voters oppose anti-trans policies and rhetoric.
—Samantha Riedel, Them, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rhetoric 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024
On Tesla’s message board soliciting shareholder questions prior to the call, the dominant concern was Musk’s controversial rhetoric and tactics in supporting Donald Trump.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2024
The big picture: Separate reports and surveys suggest that Tesla's brand perception has been diminished by Musk's growing right-wing rhetoric.
—Hope King, Axios, 24 Oct. 2024
Too many Democrats appear convinced that a vigorous defense of trans rights would instantly cost them their elections, even though polls have shown for years that most voters oppose anti-trans policies and rhetoric.
—Samantha Riedel, Them, 24 Oct. 2024
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 16 Nov. 2024.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share