Rhetorical

Pronunciation: /rɪˈtɔrɪkəl/

Definitions of rhetorical

adjective relating to or concerned with the art of rhetoric; used for persuasive effect

Example Sentences

A1 What is your name? This is a rhetorical question.

A2 Do you think I care? That was a rhetorical question.

B1 Why bother asking? It's just a rhetorical question.

B2 The speaker used rhetorical devices to persuade the audience.

C1 The politician's speech was full of rhetorical flourishes.

C2 The professor's lecture was filled with rhetorical questions to engage the students.

Examples of rhetorical in a Sentence

formal The speaker used rhetorical questions to engage the audience during the debate.

informal Why do you keep asking rhetorical questions that you already know the answer to?

slang Stop with the rhetorical nonsense, just get to the point.

figurative His actions were a rhetorical slap in the face to all those who supported him.

Grammatical Forms of rhetorical

• past tense: rhetoricked
• plural: rhetoricals
• comparative: more rhetorical
• superlative: most rhetorical
• present tense: rhetorics
• future tense: will be rhetorical
• perfect tense: have been rhetorical
• continuous tense: is being rhetorical
• singular: rhetorical
• positive degree: rhetorical
• infinitive: to be rhetorical
• gerund: rhetoricking
• participle: rhetoricked

Origin and Evolution of rhetorical

First Known Use: 0015 year

Language of Origin: Greek

Story behind the word: The word 'rhetorical' originated from the Greek word 'rhetorikos', which means 'oratorical'.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to describe the art of oratory, the term 'rhetorical' has evolved to encompass the use of language to persuade or influence an audience in various forms of communication.