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Vinony

rhetoric

noun

  1. art of persuasion, one of the three ancient arts of discourse.
L314074 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ɹɪˈtɒɹɪk/ / /ˈɹɛtəɹɪk/

adj

Etymology: From Middle English rethorik, from Latin rēthoricus, rhētoricus, from Ancient Greek ῥητορῐκός (rhētorĭkós). By surface analysis, rhetor + -ic.

  1. Synonym of rhetorical.

noun

Etymology: From Middle English rethorik, rhetoric, from Old French rhetorique, from Latin rhētorica, from Ancient Greek ῥητορική (rhētorikḗ), ellipsis of ῥητορικὴ τέχνη (rhētorikḕ tékhnē), from ῥητορικός (rhētorikós, “concerning public speech”), from ῥήτωρ (rhḗtōr, “public speaker”).

  1. The art of using language, especially public speaking, as a means to persuade.

    “Transport Minister Marples, meanwhile, used arrogant rhetoric and showed his personal contempt for railways when confirming in Parliament that a third of the network was to be closed even before the survey results were known.”

    ““As soon as I am inaugurated, I will direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters. We will be a Nation of Law and Order again!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, echoing his long-standing advocacy for use of the death penalty, which was part of his tough-on-crime rhetoric during the 2024 campaign.”

  2. Meaningless language with an exaggerated style intended to impress.

    “It’s only so much rhetoric.”