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
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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of rhetorical
That rhetorical strategy is actually what scares me.
—
Sigal Samuel, Vox, 21 Nov. 2024
Some supporters glean signs of greater sympathy for civilians in Gaza, even if the distinctions are subtle and rhetorical.
—Charlotte Alter / Pittsburgh, TIME, 10 Oct. 2024
These subtle symbolic and rhetorical shifts suggest that North Korea is dissatisfied with China.
—Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024
But even when adjusted for rhetorical inflation, Trump has signaled plans for a starkly different sort of tariff regime.
—Joseph Thorndike, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rhetorical 
Sigal Samuel, Vox, 21 Nov. 2024
Some supporters glean signs of greater sympathy for civilians in Gaza, even if the distinctions are subtle and rhetorical.
—Charlotte Alter / Pittsburgh, TIME, 10 Oct. 2024
These subtle symbolic and rhetorical shifts suggest that North Korea is dissatisfied with China.
—Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024
But even when adjusted for rhetorical inflation, Trump has signaled plans for a starkly different sort of tariff regime.
—Joseph Thorndike, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
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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Lisa Colly Shaggy Faux Fur Jacket, $65 with coupon Channel her Oscar de la Renta jacket from the Midnights set with this purple jacket.Shalwah Evans, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024
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The political stakes in purple states — those with small electoral margins that can swing back and forth between the two major parties — are enormous.Christopher Cooper / Made by History, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Police said the suspects punched and kicked the 17-year-old male following a verbal dispute.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
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Comments Drew Barrymore and Cynthia Erivo understand that physical communication can be just as important as verbal.EW.com, EW.com, 10 Dec. 2024
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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Such exclusions echo broader systemic inequities, perpetuating a cycle in which linguistic dominance constrains not only individual researchers but the development of global knowledge itself.HEC Paris Insights, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
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Friends, we are gathered here today to discuss a strange linguistic invention: uncomfortability.Laura Bradley, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Unless the Top-Tier VC funds can create more unicorns or sell more of their mediocre ventures as strategic sales to corporations at inflated prices, their strategy may be at risk of failing.Dileep Rao, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
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An inflated sense of humans’ capacity to control AI can, in fact, exacerbate the very risks that critics fear.Sebastian Elbaum, Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Two months later in Disney Hall, Esa-Pekka Salonen conducted the Colburn Orchestra in a fiery yet eloquent performance of Sibelius’ Second Symphony, which was written at the beginning of the 20th century, when Finland was seeking cultural independence from Russia.Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
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On the other hand, this was a season- and career-defining game for those involved, as evidenced by Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s extremely emotional and eloquent postgame interview.Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Finally, as communicative Mercury coordinates with ethereal Neptune at 8:33 pm EDT, our intuition and creativity are highlighted while frustration melts away.Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2024
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Related Articles Cale Makar’s big night helps Avalanche solve Flyers NHL referee Mitch Dunning communicative, can move extremities following violent collision in Avs-Flyers game The Avs are in the nation’s capital to face the Capitals again Thursday.Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 19 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Rhetorical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rhetorical. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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