rhetorical
adjective
- relating to rhetoric
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ɹɪˈtɒɹ.ɪ.kəl/ / /ɹəˈtɒɹ.ɪ.kəl/ / /ɹɪˈtɔɹɪkəl/
adj
Etymology: From Middle English rethorycal, rethoricalle, rethorycall, from rethorik, rhetoric (noun) or Latin rēthoricus, rhētoricus, from Ancient Greek ῥητορικός (rhētorikós, “concerning public speaking”). By surface analysis, rhetoric + -al.
- 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.
“Unfortunately, she has used the attack as a launch pad for a bizarre and undercooked exercise in rhetorical bothsidesism, in which she argues that American Jews should be just as worried about college students who overzealously criticize Israel as they are about the aspiring Einsatzgruppen who shoot up shuls.”
- Asked for dramatic or persuasive effect, rather than to get an answer.
“'"Are you an idiot? Actually, don't answer that, it was rhetorical."”
noun
Etymology: From Middle English rethorycal, rethoricalle, rethorycall, from rethorik, rhetoric (noun) or Latin rēthoricus, rhētoricus, from Ancient Greek ῥητορικός (rhētorikós, “concerning public speaking”). By surface analysis, rhetoric + -al.
- A study or exercise in rhetoric.