- (formal, often disapproving) speech or writing that is intended to influence people, but that is not completely honest or sincere
- the rhetoric of political slogans
- Her speech was just empty rhetoric.
- His speech was dismissed as mere rhetoric by the opposition.
Extra Examples- Behind all the rhetoric, his relations with the army are tense.
- He was prepared to use militant rhetoric in attacking his opponents.
- Little has changed, despite the rhetoric about reform.
- official rhetoric on the virtues of large families
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- empty
- mere
- fiery
- …
- adopt
- employ
- engage in
- …
- behind the rhetoric
- beneath the rhetoric
- despite the rhetoric
- …
- (formal) the art of using language in speech or writing in a special way that influences or entertains people synonym eloquence, oratory
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French rethorique, via Latin from Greek rhētorikē (tekhnē) ‘(art) of rhetoric’, from rhētōr ‘rhetor’.
Check pronunciation:
rhetoric