rhetorical
rhetorical
Definition
rhe·tori·cal (ri tôr′i kəl)
adjective
- of, having the nature of, or according to rhetoric
- using or characterized by mere rhetoric, or artificial eloquence; showy and elaborate in style
rhe·tor′i·cally adverb
rhetorical
Synonyms
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.
