- 1(of a question) asked only to make a statement or to produce an effect rather than to get an answer “Don't you care what I do?” he asked, but it was a rhetorical question.
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- 2(formal) (often disapproving) (of a speech or piece of writing) intended to influence people, but not completely honest or sincere
- 3(formal) connected with the art of rhetoric the use of rhetorical devices such as metaphor and irony She ended her speech with a rhetorical flourish.
NAmE//rɪˈtɔrɪkli//, NAmE//rɪˈtɑrɪkli//
adverb “Do you think I'm stupid?” she asked rhetorically. a rhetorically structured essaySee rhetorical in the Oxford Advanced Learner's DictionaryCheck pronunciation: rhetorical