Meaning & use
rhetoric
The art of using language effectively and persuasively, especially in speech or writing.
See it in a sentence
The politician's rhetoric stirred the crowd, even though his plan lacked detail.
Ancient Greek students studied rhetoric alongside philosophy and logic.
A note on using this word
Rhetoric is often used negatively in modern speech to suggest language that sounds impressive but lacks real substance.
Words with a similar meaning
eloquencepersuasion
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
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