Rhetoric
noun
The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing.
The politicians often use rhetoric to persuade people
Often appears as...
- political rhetoric
- example of rhetoric
noun
Language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect, but often regarded as lacking in sincerity or meaningful content.
Nobody was fooled by the CEO's empty rhetoric
Often appears as...
- empty rhetoric
- mere rhetoric
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
The study of rhetoric.
Rhetoric was considered a central part of Western education during ancient times
Often appears as...
- study of rhetoric
- rhetoric course
Usage tips
Academic
noun
The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing.
The politicians often use rhetoric to persuade people
Often appears as...
- political rhetoric
- example of rhetoric
noun
Language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect, but often regarded as lacking in sincerity or meaningful content.
Nobody was fooled by the CEO's empty rhetoric
Often appears as...
- empty rhetoric
- mere rhetoric
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
The study of rhetoric.
Rhetoric was considered a central part of Western education during ancient times
Often appears as...
- study of rhetoric
- rhetoric course
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Argumentative Writing
Rhetoric is used in essays or speeches to argue a point convincingly.
His essay used powerful rhetoric to support environmental reforms.
Pro Tip 2/3Persuasive Tools
Writers often use rhetorical devices such as metaphors to connect with their audience.
Her speech was rich in rhetoric, painting vivid pictures of a better future.
Pro Tip 3/3Audience Awareness
Good rhetoric is tailored to the audience's values and beliefs for maximum impact.
He studied his audience before crafting rhetoric that resonated with them.
Pro Tip 1/3Argumentative Writing
Rhetoric is used in essays or speeches to argue a point convincingly.
His essay used powerful rhetoric to support environmental reforms.
Pro Tip 2/3Persuasive Tools
Writers often use rhetorical devices such as metaphors to connect with their audience.
Her speech was rich in rhetoric, painting vivid pictures of a better future.
Pro Tip 3/3Audience Awareness
Good rhetoric is tailored to the audience's values and beliefs for maximum impact.
He studied his audience before crafting rhetoric that resonated with them.
Pro Tip 1/3Argumentative Writing
Rhetoric is used in essays or speeches to argue a point convincingly.
His essay used powerful rhetoric to support environmental reforms.
Pro Tip 2/3Persuasive Tools
Writers often use rhetorical devices such as metaphors to connect with their audience.
Her speech was rich in rhetoric, painting vivid pictures of a better future.
Pro Tip 3/3Audience Awareness
Good rhetoric is tailored to the audience's values and beliefs for maximum impact.
He studied his audience before crafting rhetoric that resonated with them.
Compare with
argumentationarticulatedeliverydiscourseelocutionexpressionfluencyoratorypersuasion
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Video examples
Jackson Katz: Violence...
and standing with women and not against them and pretending that somehow this is a battle between the sexes and other kinds of nonsense. We live in the world together. And by the way, one of the things that really bothers me about some of the rhetoric against feminists and others who have built the battered women's and rape crisis movements around the world
Video examples
We need to talk about an...
the great increase in mass incarceration in this country wasn't really in violent crime categories it was this misguided war on drugs now that's where the dramatic increases have come in our prison population and we got carried away with the rhetoric of punishment and so we have three strikes laws that put people in prison forever for stealing a
Video examples
How to use rhetoric to...
where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. In both cases, the speaker's present their audience with a possible future and try to enlist their help in avoiding or achieving it. But what makes for good deliberative rhetoric, besides the future tense?
Video examples
Bryan Stevenson: We need...
It was this misguided war on drugs. That's where the dramatic increases have come in our prison population. And we got carried away with the rhetoric of punishment. And so we have "Three Strikes" laws that put people in prison forever for stealing a bicycle, for low-level property crimes,
Video examples
Esther Duflo: Social...
And the third one Do free bed nets discourage future purchase? The third one is important because if we think people get used to handouts, it might destroy markets to distribute free bed nets. Now this is a debate that has generated a lot of emotion and angry rhetoric.
Video examples
Skinheads Recruiting...
you think this way but here's the truth your parents are lying to you the government's lying to you and they start brainwashing you you start talking to them on a regular basis and you know you start believing the rhetoric the other major vehicle for recruitment
Video examples
Violence is a failure of...
us to do because people in telling their stories are putting themselves into the story and that breaks down these kinds of assumptions and it helps connect be people beyond rhetoric and that's element number three connections so when
Video examples
John Bohannon: Dance vs....
or bail out an investment bank. It's sure to help. Of course someday, in the deep future, a technology of persuasion even more powerful than PowerPoint may be invented, rendering dancers unnecessary as tools of rhetoric.
Video examples
Susan Etlinger: What do...
is spend a little bit more time on things like the humanities and sociology, and the social sciences, rhetoric, philosophy, ethics, because they give us context that is so important for big data, and because
Video examples
Don't fear intelligent...
pitting humanity versus technology. And this competitive rhetoric is standard now. We are in a race against the machines, in a fight or even in a war. Jobs are being killed off.
Video examples
Jackson Katz: Violence...
and standing with women and not against them and pretending that somehow this is a battle between the sexes and other kinds of nonsense. We live in the world together. And by the way, one of the things that really bothers me about some of the rhetoric against feminists and others who have built the battered women's and rape crisis movements around the world
Video examples
We need to talk about an...
the great increase in mass incarceration in this country wasn't really in violent crime categories it was this misguided war on drugs now that's where the dramatic increases have come in our prison population and we got carried away with the rhetoric of punishment and so we have three strikes laws that put people in prison forever for stealing a
Video examples
How to use rhetoric to...
where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. In both cases, the speaker's present their audience with a possible future and try to enlist their help in avoiding or achieving it. But what makes for good deliberative rhetoric, besides the future tense?
Video examples
Bryan Stevenson: We need...
It was this misguided war on drugs. That's where the dramatic increases have come in our prison population. And we got carried away with the rhetoric of punishment. And so we have "Three Strikes" laws that put people in prison forever for stealing a bicycle, for low-level property crimes,
Video examples
Esther Duflo: Social...
And the third one Do free bed nets discourage future purchase? The third one is important because if we think people get used to handouts, it might destroy markets to distribute free bed nets. Now this is a debate that has generated a lot of emotion and angry rhetoric.
Video examples
Skinheads Recruiting...
you think this way but here's the truth your parents are lying to you the government's lying to you and they start brainwashing you you start talking to them on a regular basis and you know you start believing the rhetoric the other major vehicle for recruitment
Video examples
Violence is a failure of...
us to do because people in telling their stories are putting themselves into the story and that breaks down these kinds of assumptions and it helps connect be people beyond rhetoric and that's element number three connections so when
Video examples
John Bohannon: Dance vs....
or bail out an investment bank. It's sure to help. Of course someday, in the deep future, a technology of persuasion even more powerful than PowerPoint may be invented, rendering dancers unnecessary as tools of rhetoric.
Video examples
Susan Etlinger: What do...
is spend a little bit more time on things like the humanities and sociology, and the social sciences, rhetoric, philosophy, ethics, because they give us context that is so important for big data, and because
Video examples
Don't fear intelligent...
pitting humanity versus technology. And this competitive rhetoric is standard now. We are in a race against the machines, in a fight or even in a war. Jobs are being killed off.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Okieriete Onaodowan
American Actor
Broadway needs to let go of any fear that it won't succeed and take a knee. There's this rhetoric about being grateful and happy that you're getting paid for your art. We are told to put our own stuff aside, but doesn't everyone have a job they should just shut up and do?
Quote examples
John Podesta
American Lawyer
So I think it's important to communicate with the people in terms of what the real facts are on these proposals and try to have a discussion and a dialogue that gives people information. I think they're hungry for that rather than just political rhetoric.
Quote examples
Richard Rodgers
American Composer
It may be that that we can sing what we often cannot say, whether it be from shyness, fear, lack of the right words or the passion or dramatic gift to express them. More souls have rallied to more causes by the strains of music than by straining rhetoric.
Quote examples
Jeh Johnson
American Public Servant
It's better for candidates to suggest ideas that are responsible, not ones that are incapable of being executed. People are influenced by what their leaders tell them. And bringing the level of rhetoric down brings the temperature down.
Quote examples
Zell Miller
American Politician
Twenty years of votes can tell you much more about a man than twenty weeks of campaign rhetoric. Campaign talk tells people who you want them to think you are. How you vote tells people who you really are deep inside.
Quote examples
Lauren Bush
Model
I think politicians do great things in the world, but I don't think they're the only ones who can. I don't like all the rhetoric and the finger pointing.
Quote examples
Wen Jiabao
Chinese Statesman
More scientific language and less diplomatic rhetoric may make this world even better.
Quote examples
Tommy Thompson
American Politician
I think in the heat of emotions, some rhetoric is said that is a little explosive.
Quote examples
Peter Shaffer
English Playwright
The rhetoric is the key to the character. It's the verbal music of the piece.
Quote examples
John Fund
Rhetoric is cheap, evidence comes more dearly.
Quote examples
Okieriete Onaodowan
American Actor
Broadway needs to let go of any fear that it won't succeed and take a knee. There's this rhetoric about being grateful and happy that you're getting paid for your art. We are told to put our own stuff aside, but doesn't everyone have a job they should just shut up and do?
Quote examples
John Podesta
American Lawyer
So I think it's important to communicate with the people in terms of what the real facts are on these proposals and try to have a discussion and a dialogue that gives people information. I think they're hungry for that rather than just political rhetoric.
Quote examples
Richard Rodgers
American Composer
It may be that that we can sing what we often cannot say, whether it be from shyness, fear, lack of the right words or the passion or dramatic gift to express them. More souls have rallied to more causes by the strains of music than by straining rhetoric.
Quote examples
Jeh Johnson
American Public Servant
It's better for candidates to suggest ideas that are responsible, not ones that are incapable of being executed. People are influenced by what their leaders tell them. And bringing the level of rhetoric down brings the temperature down.
Quote examples
Zell Miller
American Politician
Twenty years of votes can tell you much more about a man than twenty weeks of campaign rhetoric. Campaign talk tells people who you want them to think you are. How you vote tells people who you really are deep inside.
Quote examples
Lauren Bush
Model
I think politicians do great things in the world, but I don't think they're the only ones who can. I don't like all the rhetoric and the finger pointing.
Quote examples
Wen Jiabao
Chinese Statesman
More scientific language and less diplomatic rhetoric may make this world even better.
Quote examples
Tommy Thompson
American Politician
I think in the heat of emotions, some rhetoric is said that is a little explosive.
Quote examples
Peter Shaffer
English Playwright
The rhetoric is the key to the character. It's the verbal music of the piece.
Quote examples
John Fund
Rhetoric is cheap, evidence comes more dearly.
Example 1 of 10
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