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
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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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of rhetorical
Sheinbaum’s tit-for-tat rhetorical spars with Trump echo her predecessor, former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who maintained a cordial relationship with Trump while saber-rattling against the United States for the benefit of his domestic audience.
—
Rafael Bernal, The Hill, 8 Jan. 2025
This rhetorical strategy is the exact same one deployed by the defendants in the Ku Klux Klan Trials of 1871-1872.
—Brittany Friedman / Made By History, TIME, 6 Jan. 2025
But Canada’s distinct political culture makes Trump’s rhetorical dreams far more complicated in reality.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 8 Jan. 2025
But this deal quickly turned political, given U.S. Steel's importance to the battleground state of Pennsylvania, and both Biden and Donald Trump came out in rhetorical opposition.
—Dan Primack, Axios, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rhetorical 
Rafael Bernal, The Hill, 8 Jan. 2025
This rhetorical strategy is the exact same one deployed by the defendants in the Ku Klux Klan Trials of 1871-1872.
—Brittany Friedman / Made By History, TIME, 6 Jan. 2025
But Canada’s distinct political culture makes Trump’s rhetorical dreams far more complicated in reality.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 8 Jan. 2025
But this deal quickly turned political, given U.S. Steel's importance to the battleground state of Pennsylvania, and both Biden and Donald Trump came out in rhetorical opposition.
—Dan Primack, Axios, 2 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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How to Play Connections The categories vary in difficulty from yellow to green to blue to purple, with yellow considered the easiest category and purple the trickiest.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
21 Jan. 2025
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The exterior is painted in bold turquoise and purple stripes, string lights adorn the multilevel porch seating areas, live music is a regular occurrence, and the dining room walls are covered in neon signs, surf boards, bumper stickers, and all kinds of other beachy paraphernalia.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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For leaders aiming to inspire trust and clarity, neuroscience offers practical insights into why these verbal tics matter and how to reduce them.—
Scott Hutcheson,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
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East Haven Public Safety Dispatch alerted officers that the caller reported being threatened by a man who allegedly pointed a rifle at him from a condominium window during a verbal altercation, according to Murgo.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
21 Jan. 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 actor takes particular pride in maintaining linguistic authenticity across his bilingual career.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
17 Jan. 2025
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It’s gone on quite a linguistic journey over the centuries.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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What can be said is that, in spite of the inflated prices, there is interest.—
Verity Burns,
WIRED,
22 Jan. 2025
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These inflated prices are also being driven up further by bidding wars.—
Elizabeth Stamp,
Architectural Digest,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Art and design have been key inspirations for the eloquent and thoughtful designer, such as German poet Hugo Ball, a founder of the Dada artistic movement and of Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich, for his spring 2025 collection.—
Luisa Zargani,
WWD,
21 Jan. 2025
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What’s more difficult than curating an eloquent and versatile rotation of eveningwear?—
Cortne Bonilla,
Vogue,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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For Teams: Normalize setting boundaries while remaining communicative.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes,
4 Jan. 2025
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Its hydraulic steering was extremely communicative, responsive, and busy, relaying every crease in the tarmac at all times — to the point of requiring a firm grip and faster than average hands — just the way any driving aficionado desires.—
Peter Nelson,
The Verge,
23 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Rhetorical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rhetorical. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
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