1
as in wind
language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere
the mayor's promise to fight drugs was just rhetoric, since there was no money in the city budget for a drug program
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in poetry
the art or power of speaking or writing in a forceful and convincing way
great leaders have often been masters of rhetoric, which they have used for both good and ill
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rhetoric
But if the recent past is any guide, what many dismiss as bad-faith rhetoric can quickly harden into a core ideology for a set of true believers; the anti-vax movement and the subsequent measles outbreaks are a sobering analog.
—
Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2025
The flaw in the MAGA rhetoric is that America is a debtor.
—David McWilliams, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
In February, amid President Trump’s escalating rhetoric on tariffs and even hints at annexation, CIMA pulled out of SXSW just weeks before the festival — an unprecedented move that underscored the climate of uncertainty for international artists, as previously reported by Rolling Stone.
—Alex Ashley, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
Dylan argued that accepting the invitation was itself political and served to normalize Trump’s rhetoric and behavior.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rhetoric
Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2025
The flaw in the MAGA rhetoric is that America is a debtor.
—David McWilliams, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
In February, amid President Trump’s escalating rhetoric on tariffs and even hints at annexation, CIMA pulled out of SXSW just weeks before the festival — an unprecedented move that underscored the climate of uncertainty for international artists, as previously reported by Rolling Stone.
—Alex Ashley, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
Dylan argued that accepting the invitation was itself political and served to normalize Trump’s rhetoric and behavior.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rhetoric
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rhetoric
Noun
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For example, a plant may attract the same pests or wind pollination can impact the quality of differing varieties of the same plant.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
20 Apr. 2025
-
Reports include tornado, wind storm and hail storm reports.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Wesley Viner, associate curator at the museum, told Fox News Digital the letter is part of an ongoing correspondence about the nature of poetry, knowledge and Christianity.—
Ashley J. DiMella Fox News,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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Writers used to inherently understand the value of a good story and inject poetry and cosmic musing into their baseball writing… Sheesh, make baseball human again.—
Levi Weaver,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Just ask anyone who's watched an AI confidently spit out nonsense—or worse.—
Bob Ras,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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While Drop, clocking in at an economical 93 minutes, may sound like fun and games, there’s something deeper and more human at its core than mindless nonsense.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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An instant before touchdown, pressurized nitrogen gas thrusters fire to slow the descent to walking pace.—
Jennifer Earl, Analisa Novak,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2025
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The energy watchdog has also repeatedly warned that no new oil and gas projects are needed to meet global energy demand while achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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This began to change in January 2017, after both got a text from his younger sister, Isabel Friedman, who was arranging a meet-up at the downtown jazz club Terra Blues.—
Tammy LaGorce,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
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Late at night, locals slip into unmarked jazz clubs and speakeasies where the cocktails are strong, and the music never stops.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Then with some of the most stirring words in American oratory, Kennedy told the students — and all of us — that individual courage can be a powerful force for good.—
John T. Shaw,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Feb. 2025
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Netanyahu has done little to aid Ukraine even in his oratory.—
Melik Kaylan,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
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As a show, Agent Carter was full of fun and bombast, showing some of what its eponymous lead got up to after losing her love, Steve Rogers.—
Nola Pfau,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2025
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In previous years, Bun B’s takeovers—H-Town, Southern, and All-American, respectively—leaned heavily into the bombast of hip-hop, an all-star showcase of Southern rap royalty.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Much of that singularity was centered in McCarthy’s prose, which ricocheted—sometimes gracefully, sometimes jarringly—between gruff matter-of-factness and soaring, biblical grandiloquence.—
Alex Shephard,
The New Republic,
13 June 2023
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Several of them can fly, and all have at least a touch of grandiloquence to them.—
Michael Nordine,
Variety,
11 Aug. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Rhetoric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rhetoric. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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