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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ornate
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 linguistic
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rhetorical
Former California Assemblyman Bill Essayli certainly made a name for himself as a rhetorical bomb-thrower in the California Legislature.
—
The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
Rev displays the rhetorical power, leavened with humor and warmth, of a skilled public speaker, but many others are charismatic, too.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026
The attacks didn’t remain strictly rhetorical.
—Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
The genius of these troubling characters is embedded in their full dramatic contexts, requiring more than rhetorical flourishes and vocal modulations to bring them to life.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rhetorical
The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
Rev displays the rhetorical power, leavened with humor and warmth, of a skilled public speaker, but many others are charismatic, too.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026
The attacks didn’t remain strictly rhetorical.
—Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
The genius of these troubling characters is embedded in their full dramatic contexts, requiring more than rhetorical flourishes and vocal modulations to bring them to life.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rhetorical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rhetorical
Adjective
-
The Dallas area was a hotbed of competitive debate, and, at first, the oratorical polish of Kuang’s teammates was intimidating.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
18 Aug. 2025
-
Chicago-based like the Jacksons — the play originated at the Steppenwolf Theater Company in that city — they, too, are headed by an oratorical pastor who, in his youth, worked closely with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—
Jesse Green,
New York Times,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Male pufferfish that are trying to win over a female run their fins along the sand, creating ornate circles and patterns to attract a date.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The dining room is truly beautiful, decorated with hanging lights, colorful furniture, paper flowers, and an ornate ofrenda.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
That word is a product of linguistic confusion, according to Yeazell.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
-
For the bans on Proust and other international writers only applied to translations, allowing those with sufficient linguistic ability to consume scandalous masterpieces from abroad in their original form.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The bishops further authorized a new edition of the Roman Pontifical for pontifical Masses, expected to be completed by 2027, with Vatican approval pending for some rites, according to the Catholic News Agency.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Nov. 2025
-
In its report, the pontifical commission highlights failures in the Italian church.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The look includes the team’s deep indigo blue with neon blue, pink and purple diamonds running up the sides and onto the chest.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
11 Feb. 2026
-
In Remy Bumppo Theatre Company’s new production of Henrik Ibsen’s 1891 play, directed by Marti Lyons, the design team takes this line to heart, using a monochrome purple palette to represent Hedda’s claustrophobic world (scenic design by Joe Schermoly).—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The teams exchanged verbal insults before Anthony Sapienza punched one of the victims and struck him in the face with a pickleball paddle, according to the affidavit.—
Storey Wertheimer,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
-
But cowriting forced them to at least create a verbal outline, spending hours on the phone getting to know the characters before trading off chapters and editing each other’s work.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Whereas Apollo space suits were akin to wearing an inflated balloon that greatly hindered motion, the AxEMU is designed with flexible joints that give astronauts mobility to kneel, jog or even do the splits.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Haber said in these contracts, Coto agreed to pay inflated prices for services for the building, including cleaning, security and maintenance.—
Catherine Odom
February 5,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Reform—Within Reason Malthus aimed to puncture Godwin’s grandiloquent progressivism.—
Roy Scranton,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rhetorical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rhetorical. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
