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
The audience score is quite good as well, an 80% with several hundred reviews in, and it has not been sunk or bombed because of its subject matter, in the face of so much anti-trans rhetoric in the present day.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
However, as his Republican allies push for Trump to focus on the issues rather than attacking Harris, Trump’s rhetoric in recent days has become more extreme.
—Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2024
As president from 2017-21, Trump used such saber-rattling rhetoric to win concessions on immigration from López Obrador and his predecessor, Enrique Peña Nieto.
—Eduardo García, San Antonio Express-News, 29 Sep. 2024
After a second attempt on Trump’s life was foiled, this time on his Florida golf course, Trump immediately castigated Democratic rhetoric.
—Clare Malone, The New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rhetoric 
Paul Tassi, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
However, as his Republican allies push for Trump to focus on the issues rather than attacking Harris, Trump’s rhetoric in recent days has become more extreme.
—Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2024
As president from 2017-21, Trump used such saber-rattling rhetoric to win concessions on immigration from López Obrador and his predecessor, Enrique Peña Nieto.
—Eduardo García, San Antonio Express-News, 29 Sep. 2024
After a second attempt on Trump’s life was foiled, this time on his Florida golf course, Trump immediately castigated Democratic rhetoric.
—Clare Malone, The New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rhetoric
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rhetoric.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rhetoric
Cite this Entry
“Rhetoric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhetoric. Accessed 8 Oct. 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
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