Rhetorical is an English word with synonyms like embellished or ornate. Below you'll find 10+ example sentences showing how it's used in practice.
Rhetorical meaning
- Part of or similar to rhetoric, the use of language as a means to persuade.
- Not earnest, or presented only for the purpose of an argument.
Synonyms of Rhetorical
Using Rhetorical
- The main meaning on this page is: Part of or similar to rhetoric, the use of language as a means to persuade. | Not earnest, or presented only for the purpose of an argument.
- Useful related words include: expressive style, empurpled, embellished, ornate.
- In the example corpus, rhetorical often appears in combinations such as: the rhetorical, of rhetorical, rhetorical question.
Context around Rhetorical
- Average sentence length in these examples: 22.8 words
- Position in the sentence: 9 start, 10 middle, 1 end
- Sentence types: 19 statements, 1 questions, 0 exclamations
Corpus analysis for Rhetorical
- In this selection, "rhetorical" usually appears in the middle of the sentence. The average example has 22.8 words, and this corpus slice is mostly made up of statements.
- Around the word, standing, century, contemporary, scholars, criticism and analysis stand out and add context to how "rhetorical" is used.
- Recognizable usage signals include a standing rhetorical theme and affect the rhetorical responses that. That gives this page its own corpus information beyond isolated example sentences.
- By corpus frequency, "rhetorical" sits close to words such as acquainted, adv and aerodynamic, which helps place it inside the broader word index.
Example types with rhetorical
The same corpus examples are grouped by length and sentence type, making it easier to see the contexts in which the word appears:
And rhetorical contests, very active in my church. (8 words)
It’s a rhetorical question, it’s every man for himself. (11 words)
The question was rhetorical, or at least I think it was. (11 words)
But it is more likely that it is a rhetorical exercise from the early fourth century BC, since formal speeches were not delivered during ostracisms and the accusation or defence of Alcibiades was a standing rhetorical theme. (37 words)
Don’t think the fact that you have a lot of rhetoric, that people being very rhetorical, people angry, that’s going to convert into being effective in terms of changing the narrative. (33 words)
In their basketball battles, for instance, the high-flying scorer Russell Westbrook and defensive pest Patrick Beverley would go back and forth trying to change the terrain of rhetorical engagement. (30 words)
But I had then asked the following rhetorical questions: “where were the queries to duty bearers whose irresponsible attitude caused the apology? (22 words)
Example sentences (20)
Aristotle emphasized enthymematic reasoning as central to the process of rhetorical invention, though later rhetorical theorists placed much less emphasis on it.
But it is more likely that it is a rhetorical exercise from the early fourth century BC, since formal speeches were not delivered during ostracisms and the accusation or defence of Alcibiades was a standing rhetorical theme.
Collectively, they write, twentieth century rhetorical studies offered an understanding of rhetoric that demonstrated a "rich complexity" of how rhetorical scholars understood the nature of rhetoric.
Contemporary rhetorical criticism has maintained aspects of early neo-Aristotelian thinking through close reading, which attempts to explore the organization and stylistic structure of a rhetorical object.
Generally speaking, rhetorical analysis makes use of rhetorical concepts (ethos, logos, kairos, mediation, etc.) to describe the social or epistemological functions of the object of study.
Individuals may find themselves shaping the rhetorical situations, which in turn affect the rhetorical responses that arise out of the situation.
Some rhetorical scholars have concluded, from studying her persuasive strategies, that she forged a rhetorical identity for herself and encouraged women to embrace this identity.
There are some scholars who do partial rhetorical analysis and defer judgments about rhetorical success.
This means that modern rhetorical criticism is based in how the rhetorical case or object persuades, defines, or constructs the audience.
And rhetorical contests, very active in my church.
As Oscar Wilde might have said: to stage one politically rhetorical festival failure may be regarded as a misfortune, to stage two looks like carelessness.
But I had then asked the following rhetorical questions: “where were the queries to duty bearers whose irresponsible attitude caused the apology?
Don’t think the fact that you have a lot of rhetoric, that people being very rhetorical, people angry, that’s going to convert into being effective in terms of changing the narrative.
Given the difficult relationship, the Saudi offer could be interpreted as a “rhetorical move,” said Abdulaziz Alghashian, a Saudi researcher who studies his country’s policy toward Israel.
In their basketball battles, for instance, the high-flying scorer Russell Westbrook and defensive pest Patrick Beverley would go back and forth trying to change the terrain of rhetorical engagement.
It’s a rhetorical question, it’s every man for himself.
The question was rhetorical, or at least I think it was.
They may stick to the facts, but rhetorical techniques can make the worst out of any good situation.
This Democrat talking point is a rhetorical sleight of hand since having a lease you can’t drill on is worthless for increasing oil production.
This is rhetorical: the tortoise has been lying stone still, legs and head tucked in, beneath the washing machine for the past 40 days.
Common combinations with rhetorical
These word pairs occur most frequently in English texts:
- the rhetorical 22×
- of rhetorical 17×
- rhetorical question 15×
- and rhetorical 13×
- his rhetorical 7×
- rhetorical questions 6×
- is rhetorical 5×
- rhetorical criticism 5×
- as rhetorical 5×
- rhetorical skills 5×