rhetoric

noun

rhet·​o·​ric ˈre-tə-rik How to pronounce rhetoric (audio)
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
3
: verbal communication : discourse

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
Recent Examples on the Web Civil rights leaders used the idea of colorblindness to challenge racial apartheid laws and policies, but over the last 50 years, conservatives have successfully co-opted both the rhetoric and the legal legacy of the civil rights era not to advance racial progress, but to stall it. Nikole Hannah-Jones, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Today, the leaders of Law and Justice are even appealing to the West for protection, using this upside-down rhetoric to attract sympathy. Foreign Affairs, 12 Mar. 2024 His role, according to Lord, is to be the face of Hamas, spread the group’s political rhetoric and try to raise money to fund its operations. Cate Brown, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 The rhetoric from the administration has only grown stronger of late. Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 There’s a hint of violence in much of his work, just as the possibility of bloodshed hangs over so much political rhetoric. Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim American advocacy organization, said Biden has improved his rhetoric on the situation in Gaza but criticized the lack of a call for a permanent cease-fire not being incorporated into the speech. Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 8 Mar. 2024 In Tennessee, Democrats have argued ongoing anti-immigration rhetoric has emboldened dangerously racist views. Melissa Brown, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 This undermines public confidence in the sincerity of anti-corruption rhetoric…Only by fostering public intolerance towards corruption and removing unjust constraints can Moldova hope to overcome the issue of corruption and foster a more transparent and equitable society. Zenger News, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024

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.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English rethorik, from Anglo-French rethorique, from Latin rhetorica, from Greek rhētorikē, literally, art of oratory, from feminine of rhētorikos of an orator, from rhētōr orator, rhetorician, from eirein to say, speak — more at word

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rhetoric was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near rhetoric

Cite this Entry

“Rhetoric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhetoric. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rhetoric

noun
rhet·​o·​ric ˈret-ə-rik How to pronounce rhetoric (audio)
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
ˌret-ə-ˈrish-ən
noun

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