rhetorical Hear it!

rhetorical Definition

rhe·tori·cal (ri tôri kəl)

adjective

  1. of, having the nature of, or according to rhetoric
  2. using or characterized by mere rhetoric, or artificial eloquence; showy and elaborate in style

rhetorical Related Forms
rhe·tori·cally adverb
rhetorical Synonyms

rhetorical

modif.

rhetorical Usage Examples

Preposition: in

  • nature: Some of the questions are simple and direct whilst others are rhetorical in nature.

Modifies a noun

  • flourish: There is a total absence of self pity, rhetorical flourishes, emotional appeals.
  • trope: All rhetorical tropes exist toward such elucidation of thought.
  • gesture: History, rhetorical gestures, historical veracity, textual accuracy.
  • device: Using rhetorical devices Such devices give a lecture zest.
  • question: Instead of asking the rhetorical question " why do they hang about there?
  • criticism: This year I am preparing a rhetorical criticism on the systematic rape in Bosnia.

Modifying Another Word

  • purely: Which means we may be witnessing the advent of the world's first purely rhetorical technology.
  • merely: Voluntary Trust Fund Any initiatives beyond the merely rhetorical are likely to cost money.
  • highly: Weiß convincingly shows that Paul's text is highly rhetorical in nature.
  • not: These are not rhetorical questions; I would like to have answers from anyone who knows -- by email, please.
  • largely: Posted on 01-May-05 at 8:59 pm | Permalink AJE said: Jim, Dave - for me the issue is largely rhetorical.
  • somewhat: The answer to my somewhat rhetorical questions above is Brian Stein.

Used with adjective complement

  • remain: Right up to the 1950s their boasted efficiency remained more rhetorical than real.
rhetorical Quotes

The ship's ignored.The iceberg rises and sinks again; its glassy pinnacles correct elliptics in the sky. This is a scene where he who treads the boards is artlessly rhetorical.

—Bishop, Elizabeth