Rhetorical Devices

adjective relating to or characterized by alliteration, the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words

• The poet used alliterative techniques to enhance the rhythm of the poem.
• She loves alliterative tongue twisters because they are fun to say.
• I can't believe how alliterative that rap verse was, it was fire!
• The alliterative sound of the rain on the roof was like a soothing melody.

noun a formal request for a higher court to review and change the decision of a lower court

verb make a serious or urgent request, typically to the public

• The new advertising campaign is designed to appeal to a more sophisticated audience.
• I think this movie will really appeal to your sense of humor.
• This song really appeals to my vibe, I can't stop listening to it.
• His speech appealed to our sense of justice and fairness.

noun a discussion involving differing points of view; debate

• The two scholars engaged in a heated argument over the interpretation of the ancient text.
• I overheard an argument between two coworkers about whose turn it was to clean the break room.
• I got into a big argument with my friend last night, but we made up this morning.
• The argument between light and darkness raged on, each side fighting for dominance.

adverb used to suggest that a word or phrase is not exactly accurate but is used for the sake of argument or to make a point

• The artist used various shades of blue to create a sense of depth in the painting, as it were.
• I told him to take a break and relax, as it were, but he insisted on finishing the project.
• She's the boss around here, the queen bee as it were.
• The relationship between the two countries is like a delicate dance, each step carefully planned as it were.

noun the repetition of vowel sounds within a phrase or sentence

• The poet used assonance to create a musical quality in his verse.
• I noticed a lot of assonance in that song lyrics, it sounded cool.
• The rapper's assonance game is on point, his rhymes flow so smoothly.
• The assonance of colors in the painting created a harmonious visual effect.

noun a logical fallacy in which a statement or claim is assumed to be true without evidence or proof

verb to assume the truth of an argument or proposition that is yet to be proved

preposition used in the phrase 'beg the question' to indicate the action of assuming something to be true without evidence

• The argument presented by the speaker seems to beg the question of whether the data is reliable.
• I don't mean to beg the question, but are you sure you have all the facts straight?
• Dude, that totally begs the question - do you even know what you're talking about?
• Her actions beg the question of whether she truly values our friendship.

noun a kind of smooth, flattering talk that is intended to deceive or persuade

verb to influence or persuade (someone) using flattery or smooth talk

• The tour guide at Blarney Castle shared the history behind the famous Blarney Stone.
• I can't believe you fell for his blarney about being a prince from a far-off land.
• Don't listen to his blarney, he's just trying to sell you something.
• Her ability to charm and persuade with her words is like a modern-day blarney.

noun a county in North Carolina, United States

• The politician's speech was full of buncombe and lacked any substantial policy proposals.
• Don't listen to him, he's just talking buncombe.
• I can't believe people actually fall for that buncombe.
• Her excuses were nothing but buncombe to avoid taking responsibility.

noun a roundabout or indirect way of speaking; the use of more words than necessary to express an idea

• The speaker's constant use of circumlocution made it difficult for the audience to follow his main point.
• Stop with the circumlocution and just get to the point already!
• Quit beating around the bush and just say what you mean instead of using circumlocution.
• Her circumlocution was like a maze, leading me in circles without ever reaching a clear conclusion.

noun the quality of being clear, logical, and convincing; persuasiveness

• The cogency of the argument presented by the expert was undeniable.
• I was impressed by the cogency of his reasoning during the debate.
• Her cogency in explaining the concept blew my mind.
• The cogency of her emotions was evident in the way she expressed herself.

adjective Cogent is an adjective that describes something that is clear, logical, and convincing.

• The lawyer presented a cogent argument in court, backed up with strong evidence.
• She always has a cogent explanation for everything, it's impressive.
• His reasoning was so cogent, it was like he read my mind.
• The author's words were a cogent force that captivated the readers.

noun a flowing down or out; discharge of humors

• The doctor diagnosed the patient with a defluxion of the nasal passages.
• I've been dealing with a defluxion, so I'm not feeling my best.
• I hate having a defluxion, it's so annoying.
• The defluxion of funds from the company's account raised suspicions of embezzlement.

noun a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument

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• The demagogue's inflammatory speeches incited violence among the crowd.
• That demagogue always knows how to rile people up with his words.
• The demagogue is just a smooth-talking troublemaker.
• She was seen as a demagogue of the fashion world, influencing trends with her bold style choices.

noun a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something

• The professor went on a lengthy diatribe about the flaws in the research methodology.
• My friend always goes off on a diatribe whenever politics is brought up.
• I can't stand listening to his diatribe about the new video game.
• Her diatribe against modern technology was like a storm of criticism.

noun a person who delivers a speech or lecture

• The discourser presented a well-reasoned argument during the debate.
• The discourser really knows how to make a compelling case.
• That discourser is a real smooth talker.
• The discourser's words were like a soothing balm for the troubled minds of the audience.

noun the skill of clear and expressive speech, especially of distinct pronunciation and articulation

• She excelled in elocution, delivering her speech with eloquence and precision.
• His elocution skills are top-notch, he can really captivate an audience.
• I'm working on my elocution game, trying to sound more professional.
• Her elocution was like music to my ears, so smooth and soothing.

noun a noun is a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'elusion' is a noun that refers to the act of avoiding or escaping something, typically through cunning or deception.

• The criminal's elusion of the police was carefully planned and executed.
• She always seems to find a way of elusion when it comes to doing her chores.
• He thought he could pull off the elusion, but he got caught red-handed.
• The elusion of reality through daydreaming can be a temporary escape from stress.

noun a speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly

• The professor received an encomium for his groundbreaking research in the field of physics.
• Everyone at the party gave Sarah an encomium for her amazing cooking skills.
• Dude, that movie was so encomium-worthy!
• The sunset painted an encomium across the sky, with hues of pink and orange blending together beautifully.

verb to use ambiguous or unclear language in order to deceive or avoid committing to a position

• The witness tried to equivocate when asked about his whereabouts on the night of the crime.
• Don't equivocate, just tell me the truth.
• Stop equivocating and give me a straight answer.
• Her smile seemed to equivocate her true feelings about the situation.

noun the use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth or to avoid committing oneself; prevarication

• The politician's equivocation on the issue only served to confuse the public further.
• Stop with the equivocation and just give a straight answer!
• Quit with the equivocation, just tell it like it is.
• Her equivocation was like trying to walk a tightrope without falling.

noun the characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or community as manifested in its beliefs and aspirations

• The company's ethos is centered around sustainability and ethical business practices.
• Our team's ethos is all about working hard and having each other's backs.
• Their ethos is all about living life to the fullest and not caring what others think.
• The ethos of the story is one of redemption and forgiveness.

noun a highly elaborate and artificial style of writing or speaking, characterized by excessive use of literary devices and affected elegance

• The author's use of euphuism in his writing style made the novel difficult to read for some.
• I don't really understand all the euphuism in this book, it's too fancy for me.
• Why do you always have to use so much euphuism in your texts? Just say what you mean.
• Her speech was filled with euphuism, masking the true meaning behind her words.

adjective Euphonious is an adjective that describes something that is pleasing to the ear, melodious, or harmonious in sound.

• The soprano singer's voice was so euphonious that it captivated the entire audience.
• I could listen to that euphonious melody all day long.
• The beat of that song is straight up euphonious!
• The sound of the waves crashing against the shore was like a euphonious symphony to my ears.

noun a showing by example; an instance of illustrating

• The professor used exemplification to illustrate her point during the lecture.
• She gave examples to make her explanation clearer.
• She really broke it down with some real-life situations.
• Her use of exemplification painted a vivid picture for the audience.

adjective fallacious - containing a mistake in logic; deceptive or misleading

• The argument presented by the defense attorney was fallacious and lacked evidence.
• Don't believe everything you hear, some of it may be fallacious.
• That website is full of fallacious information, don't trust it.
• Her promises turned out to be fallacious, like a mirage in the desert.

noun a mistaken belief, especially one based on unsound argument

• The argument that all politicians are corrupt is a fallacy.
• Thinking that all cats hate water is a fallacy.
• Believing that you can get rich quick is a total fallacy.
• The fallacy of assuming success will come overnight is a common misconception.

noun a word or phrase used in a non-literal sense to add rhetorical force to a spoken or written passage

preposition a word used before a noun or pronoun to show its relationship to another word in the sentence

• The author used a figure of speech to enhance the imagery in the poem.
• I love how she plays with figures of speech in her writing.
• That rapper has some sick figures of speech in his lyrics.
• The politician's statement was not to be taken literally, as it was a figure of speech.

noun a violent explosion

verb to explode violently or flash like lightning

• The scientist fulminated against the unethical practices in the research field.
• She fulminated about the poor customer service she received at the store.
• The fans fulminated on social media about the controversial decision made by the referee.
• His speech was so powerful that it seemed to fulminate with passion and anger.

noun high-flown style of language, extravagant or grandiose expression

• The politician's speech was filled with grandiloquence, using extravagant language to impress the audience.
• He always talks with grandiloquence, trying to sound more important than he really is.
• Stop with all the grandiloquence, just speak plainly and get to the point.
• Her grandiloquence was like a colorful tapestry, weaving together words to create a captivating speech.

noun a figure of speech in which the last thing is mentioned first and the first thing last

• The use of hysteron proteron in literature can create a sense of urgency or confusion.
• It's like putting the cart before the horse, using hysteron proteron in a sentence.
• Talking backwards like that is just hysteron proteron, dude.
• In the grand scheme of things, using hysteron proteron is like starting at the end before the beginning.

adjective relating to or consisting of iambs, a metrical foot consisting of one short (or unstressed) syllable followed by one long (or stressed) syllable

• The iambic pentameter is a common poetic form in English literature.
• I find iambic poetry a bit hard to understand sometimes.
• I don't really vibe with iambic verse, it's just not my thing.
• The iambic rhythm of the music seemed to mimic the beating of my heart.

noun a process of excessively focusing on minor details or technicalities in an argument or discussion

• The philosopher engaged in a rigorous session of logic chopping to dissect the complex argument.
• Stop with all the logic chopping and just tell me what you really think.
• I can't stand all the logic chopping going on in this debate.
• His constant logic chopping was like trying to untangle a knot in a rope.

verb to make a speech, especially in a formal manner

• The professor was invited to orate at the academic conference.
• She loves to orate about her favorite books to anyone who will listen.
• He can really orate like a boss when he's passionate about a topic.
• The politician used his charisma to orate his way into the hearts of the voters.

noun a formal speech given on a public occasion

• The politician delivered a powerful oration to the crowd gathered in the square.
• She gave a really good oration at the school assembly.
• His oration was so lit, everyone was cheering.
• The music conductor's movements were like a silent oration, guiding the orchestra to perfection.

noun a formal public speaking, especially one that is persuasive or eloquent

adjective relating to or characteristic of public speaking or speeches

• The politician's oratory skills were highly praised during the debate.
• I always enjoy listening to his oratory at public events.
• His oratory game is on point!
• Her oratory was like music to my ears, so captivating and persuasive.

noun a public speech or published text in praise of someone or something

adjective of, relating to, or characteristic of a panegyric; formally expressing praise

• The speaker delivered a panegyric praising the achievements of the company.
• The article read like a panegyric for the new restaurant in town.
• I can't believe you wrote a whole panegyric about your favorite video game.
• Her performance was a panegyric to the beauty of dance.

noun the use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same; or similar in their construction, sound, meaning, or meter

adjective describing something that is parallel in structure or form

• The author used parallelism in his writing to emphasize the similarities between the two main characters.
• I noticed the parallelism in how both of them handled the situation.
• The parallelism between their outfits was on point.
• The parallelism of their goals led them down the same path.

noun a deceptive or misleading argument

• The philosopher pointed out the paralogism in the argument, highlighting the logical fallacy.
• I think there's a paralogism in your reasoning, it doesn't quite add up.
• Your argument is full of paralogisms, you need to work on your logic.
• The paralogism in her story was like a tangled web of confusion.

verb to speak at length or in a formal manner, especially in a way that is pompous or tedious

• The speaker began to perorate on the importance of education in his closing remarks.
• He loves to perorate about politics, but no one really listens to him.
• She always perorates about her favorite TV show like she's an expert.
• The artist's painting seemed to perorate a sense of peace and tranquility.

noun the concluding part of a speech, typically intended to inspire enthusiasm in the audience

• The speaker ended his speech with a powerful peroration that left the audience in awe.
• The teacher's peroration at the end of class was really inspiring.
• I couldn't believe the peroration he gave at the party last night, it was so epic.
• Her peroration on the importance of kindness was like a soothing balm for the soul.

noun A word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea, in this case 'persuasive' can also be used as a noun to refer to someone who is skilled at persuading others.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun, in this case 'persuasive' describes something that is able to convince or influence others.

• The lawyer delivered a highly persuasive argument in court.
• She always knows how to make a persuasive case for getting what she wants.
• His pitch was so persuasive, I couldn't say no.
• The colors in the painting were so persuasive, they seemed to jump off the canvas.

noun a bitter verbal attack or denunciation

adjective relating to a speech or piece of writing that strongly criticizes someone or something

• The senator delivered a powerful philippic against his political opponent during the debate.
• She went on a long philippic about the state of the economy at the family dinner.
• The comedian's stand-up routine was full of hilarious philippics about everyday life.
• The artist's painting was a philippic against war and violence, portrayed through vibrant colors and bold strokes.

noun a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something

adjective involving strongly critical, controversial, or disputatious writing or speech

• The author's latest book is a polemic against the current political system.
• I heard there was a big polemic at the town hall meeting last night.
• The debate turned into a real polemic, with people shouting and throwing insults.
• Her artwork was seen as a polemic against traditional beauty standards.

adjective relating to or involving strongly critical, controversial, or disputatious writing or speech

• The author's polemical writing style sparked a heated debate among scholars.
• His polemical rant on social media caused quite a stir.
• She always gets into polemical arguments with her classmates.
• The politician's polemical speech was like a verbal boxing match.

noun an instance of arguing about a trivial matter

verb to argue or raise objections about a trivial matter

adjective engaged in or characterized by petty or trivial argument

• The lawyers spent hours quibbling over minor details in the contract.
• Stop quibbling and just make a decision already!
• Quit quibbling and get to the point.
• Their relationship was falling apart due to constant quibbling over insignificant matters.

noun a repeated line or phrase in a song or poem

verb to stop oneself from doing something

• In order to maintain professionalism, it is important to refrain from using inappropriate language in the workplace.
• Hey, could you please refrain from talking so loudly? I'm trying to concentrate here.
• Dude, just refrain from being so annoying all the time.
• Sometimes it's best to refrain from jumping to conclusions before knowing all the facts.

noun the act of proving a statement or theory to be false or incorrect

• The scientist presented a well-researched refutation of the theory proposed by his colleague.
• She totally shut down his argument with a solid refutation.
• He straight up debunked that with a killer refutation.
• Her words were like a sharp sword, cutting through his argument with precision and refutation.

adjective describing or pertaining to something that is repeated or reiterated

• The professor's reiterative lectures on quantum physics were thorough and informative.
• She kept making the same reiterative points during the meeting, it was getting boring.
• His reiterative rants about politics are so annoying, I can't stand them.
• The reiterative beat of the drum echoed through the forest, creating a mesmerizing rhythm.

noun A person who is skilled in the art of rhetoric; an expert in public speaking or writing

• The renowned rhetorician delivered a compelling speech at the conference.
• I heard that the rhetorician is giving a talk at the event tonight.
• That rhetorician really knows how to spin a story to make it sound good.
• As a rhetorician of emotions, he knew exactly how to manipulate the crowd's feelings.

adjective using few words in a way that shows disapproval of someone's behavior or opinions

adverb sententiously

• The professor's sententious lecture left the students feeling overwhelmed with information.
• I can't stand how sententious my coworker is when he talks about politics.
• She's always so sententious, acting like she knows everything.
• His sententious attitude towards life often alienates those around him.

adjective describing someone who is eloquent or persuasive in speech

• The silver tongued speaker was able to persuade the audience with ease.
• He's known as the silver tongued charmer around here.
• Watch out for that silver tongued devil, he'll talk you into anything.
• Her silver tongued words cut through the tension in the room.

adjective describing someone who is skilled at speaking in a persuasive or convincing manner

• The smooth tongued politician was able to persuade the crowd with his eloquent speech.
• He's so smooth tongued, he can talk his way out of any situation.
• Watch out for that smooth tongued salesman, he might try to trick you into buying something you don't need.
• Her smooth tongued words were like a soothing balm to his troubled mind.

noun a breach of good manners or etiquette; a socially awkward or tactless act

• Using 'they' as a singular pronoun is considered a solecism in formal writing.
• Making grammatical errors like that is a big solecism.
• Don't be a solecism, dude.
• His lack of manners was a solecism in an otherwise elegant dinner party.

noun a fallacious argument, especially one used deliberately to deceive

• The philosopher dismantled the sophism presented by his opponent with logical reasoning.
• Don't fall for that sophism, it's just a trick to deceive you.
• That sophism is total BS, don't believe a word of it.
• Her argument was like a sophisticated dance of sophisms, weaving in and out of logic and reason.

noun A teacher of philosophy and rhetoric in ancient Greece

• The sophist used clever arguments to persuade the jury.
• Don't listen to that sophist, he's just trying to manipulate you.
• That sophist is such a smooth talker, you can't trust a word he says.
• Beware of the sophist in sheep's clothing, their words may deceive you.

adjective relating to or characteristic of sophisticated people or their ways; refined and elegant

• The sophisticated technology allowed for precise measurements to be taken.
• She always wears the most sophisticated outfits to parties.
• That new restaurant is so sophisticated, we have to check it out!
• His sophisticated taste in music always impresses his friends.

adjective relating to or characteristic of sophistry, especially being deceptive or misleading in argumentation

• The lawyer used a sophistical argument to try to win the case.
• I don't trust his sophistical reasoning.
• She always comes up with some sophistical excuse to get out of trouble.
• His sophistical web of lies eventually caught up with him.

adjective deceptively attractive or seemingly plausible but fallacious

• The specious argument presented by the defense attorney was quickly dismantled by the prosecution.
• Don't fall for his specious excuses, he's just trying to avoid taking responsibility.
• Her specious reasoning was so off-base, I couldn't even follow what she was trying to say.
• The specious promises of easy money turned out to be nothing but a scam.

noun the study and interpretation of texts in regard to their linguistic and tonal style

• The study of stylistics focuses on analyzing the linguistic choices made by writers to convey meaning and style.
• Studying stylistics helps you understand how authors use language to create different effects in their writing.
• Stylistics is all about how writers put words together to make their writing cool and interesting.
• Exploring stylistics is like uncovering the hidden artistry behind the words on a page.

noun a persuasive argument or speech

adjective having the power to persuade or influence

• The speaker's suasive arguments convinced the audience to support the new policy.
• She's very suasive when it comes to getting people to try new things.
• His suasive skills are off the charts - he can talk anyone into anything!
• The artist used colors and shapes in a suasive way to evoke strong emotions in the viewer.

noun a word used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things

verb a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence

adjective a word or phrase naming an attribute, added to or grammatically related to a noun to modify or describe it

adverb a word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause

• It is not appropriate to talk nonsense during a business meeting.
• Stop talking nonsense and focus on the task at hand.
• Don't listen to him, he's just talking nonsense.
• His explanation was so confusing, it sounded like he was talking nonsense.

adjective relating to or involving tropes or figures of speech; figurative or metaphorical

• The study of tropological language in literature is known as tropology.
• I find it fascinating how authors use tropological techniques to convey deeper meanings in their writing.
• I never realized how tropological devices could make a story more interesting until I started studying literature.
• Her use of tropological language painted a vivid picture in the reader's mind.

noun a person who vigorously promotes a cause or belief, especially by public speaking or writing

• The politician was known for being a tub thumper during his speeches, always trying to rally support from the audience.
• I heard that guy is a real tub thumper when it comes to talking about his favorite sports team.
• That tub thumper at the bar wouldn't stop talking about his latest conquest.
• In the world of marketing, a tub thumper is someone who aggressively promotes a product or service.

verb to shout or cry out loudly

• The protesters vociferated their demands outside of the government building.
• She vociferated her excitement when she found out she got the job.
• The fans vociferated their support for the team during the game.
• The storm vociferated its fury with loud thunder and strong winds.

noun a form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn from two given or assumed propositions (premises); a syllogism

adjective relating to or based on syllogism; characterized by or involving deductive reasoning

• The philosopher presented a syllogistic argument to support his theory.
• I'm not sure I follow the syllogistic reasoning behind that decision.
• I don't buy into that whole syllogistic mumbo jumbo.
• She constructed a syllogistic web of lies to cover up her actions.

noun a punctuation mark indicating a question or doubt, such as a question mark or a raised eyebrow

• The speaker used a percontation mark at the end of his question to denote uncertainty.
• I always get confused between a percontation mark and a question mark.
• Why did you put a percontation mark there? Are you unsure or something?
• Her percontation mark at the end of the sentence added a layer of mystery to her words.

noun a rhetorical device that uses multiple conjunctions in close succession, typically where they are not necessary

• The author's use of polysyndeton in the passage created a sense of rhythm and emphasis.
• The repeated use of 'and' in that sentence is called polysyndeton.
• Yo, that polysyndeton stuff the teacher talked about is like using 'and' a bunch of times in a row.
• Her speech was like a river flowing with polysyndeton, each 'and' connecting the ideas seamlessly.

noun a Latin phrase meaning 'to the man', used to describe an argument that attacks a person's character rather than addressing the issue at hand

• The argument presented was based on ad hominem attacks rather than logical reasoning.
• She always resorts to ad hom attacks when she's losing an argument.
• He's just ad hom-ing because he can't handle being wrong.
• Using ad hominem in a debate is like bringing a knife to a gunfight.

adjective describing a loud or high-pitched sound

• The altisonant voice of the opera singer filled the concert hall with rich, powerful notes.
• I couldn't help but be impressed by his altisonant singing during karaoke night.
• Her altisonant performance on stage was totally lit!
• The altisonant roar of the crowd signaled their overwhelming support for the team.

noun a rhetorical device in which the usual order of words is reversed for emphasis or effect

• The poet used anastrophe to create a sense of emphasis in his verse.
• By switching the word order, anastrophe can make a sentence sound more poetic.
• Anastrophe may seem like a weird grammar rule, but it can actually make your writing more interesting.
• Just as anastrophe flips the order of words, sometimes life throws unexpected twists at us.

noun a word or phrase that repeats itself or is redundant, such as 'free gift' or 'safe haven'

• The term 'tautophrase' refers to a phrase that repeats the same idea in different words.
• I just learned about tautophrases, they're like saying the same thing twice in a sentence.
• Tautophrases are so redundant, like seriously saying the same thing over and over.
• In writing, using tautophrases can make the text seem repetitive and dull.

noun A figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected

adjective Describing a sentence or phrase that ends in an unexpected or humorous way

• The use of paraprosdokian in literature adds a unique twist to the narrative.
• I love how comedians use paraprosdokian to catch the audience off guard with unexpected endings.
• Paraprosdokian is like the ultimate plot twist in a joke.
• Life is full of paraprosdokian moments where things take an unexpected turn.

noun a trick or deception

verb to deceive or trick

• The diplomat approached the negotiation with great cautel, ensuring every detail was carefully considered.
• She always handles tricky situations with cautel, never rushing into decisions.
• I told him to use some cautel when dealing with that shady character.
• In the game of chess, every move must be made with cautel to outsmart your opponent.

adjective relating to the art or practice of public speaking

• The oratorical skills of the speaker captivated the audience during the conference.
• His oratorical prowess really impressed everyone at the party.
• The rapper's oratorical flow on stage was fire!
• Her oratorical style was like a symphony, each word a note in a beautiful composition.

noun a type of flawed, illogical, or convoluted reasoning or argumentation

• The argument presented by the defendant was filled with pretzel logic, making it difficult for the jury to follow.
• I couldn't make sense of her explanation, it was like trying to untangle pretzel logic.
• His excuse was just a bunch of pretzel logic, trying to twist the truth.
• Her reasoning was like a twisted pretzel, full of convoluted logic.

noun a person who is skilled in rhetoric or persuasive speaking

• The rhetor presented a compelling argument using persuasive language.
• The rhetor really knows how to talk people into things.
• That rhetor is a smooth talker, always convincing everyone of his point.
• The rhetor's words were like a powerful weapon, cutting through any doubts or objections.

noun a common or overused theme or device

• The film utilized the classic hero's journey trope to drive the plot forward.
• I'm getting tired of the whole 'love triangle' trope in romantic comedies.
• That horror movie was so cheesy, it was full of tired old tropes.
• Her constant need for validation has become a trope in her relationships.

verb to address someone or something in an exclamatory or emotional manner, often using an apostrophe

• The professor would often apostrophize certain literary works during his lectures.
• She likes to apostrophize old movies when she watches them with her friends.
• I don't know why he always apostrophizes everything he talks about.
• The artist's paintings seem to apostrophize the beauty of nature.

noun the incorrect or improper use of language

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pronoun not applicable

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• The abusage of statistics in the report led to misleading conclusions.
• Stop the abusage of my phone without permission!
• I can't believe the abusage of emojis in her texts.
• The abusage of power by the government is causing unrest among the citizens.

noun a verse that has the complete number of syllables in its final foot

adjective relating to verse that has the complete number of syllables in its final foot

• The poem was written in acatalectic meter, with each line containing the full number of syllables.
• I can't believe how long that acatalectic poem was, it felt like it would never end!
• That acatalectic verse was so boring, I couldn't even finish reading it.
• Her acatalectic speech was like a never-ending stream of words, overwhelming everyone in the room.

adjective describing a sentence that lacks a main verb or that has a main verb but lacks a subject

• The acoluthic nature of the sentence made it difficult to understand.
• I couldn't make sense of that acoluthic sentence.
• That sentence was so acoluthic, it was like trying to solve a puzzle.
• Her thoughts were acoluthic, wandering in different directions.

adjective relating to or denoting a method of instruction that is intended to convey abstract or complex information in a clear and concise manner

• The professor delivered an acroamatic lecture on ancient philosophy.
• I couldn't understand a word of the acroamatic speech given by the scientist.
• That acroamatic presentation was way over my head.
• Her acroamatic storytelling transported me to another world.

noun a Latin phrase meaning 'to attract the crowd' or 'to appeal to the masses'

• The politician's use of ad captandum vulgus tactics was seen as a desperate attempt to gain popularity.
• The singer's ad captandum vulgus behavior on social media really turned off a lot of fans.
• I can't believe he's resorting to ad captandum vulgus just to get more likes on his posts.
• Her constant use of ad captandum vulgus in her speeches shows a lack of genuine connection with the audience.

noun a word (other than a pronoun) used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things

adjective a word naming an attribute of a noun, such as sweet, red, or technical

adverb a word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb, expressing manner, place, time, or degree

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause

• The argument was based on ad feminam attacks rather than logical reasoning.
• She always resorts to ad feminam insults when she's angry.
• I can't stand when people start with ad feminam BS.
• Using ad feminam tactics is like fighting dirty in a debate.

adjective relating to or containing an adjuration, a solemn urging or advising

• The judge delivered an adjuratory speech before the jury.
• The teacher gave an adjuratory warning to the students about cheating.
• The coach's adjuratory pep talk really fired up the team.
• The author's adjuratory tone in the book urged readers to take action.

adjective to a sickening or excessive degree

adverb to a sickening or excessive degree

• The speaker continued to repeat the same points ad nauseam during the conference.
• I'm so tired of hearing about that topic ad nauseam.
• They keep talking about it ad nauseam, it's getting annoying.
• The song played on the radio ad nauseam until everyone was sick of it.

adjective serving to express opposition or contrast

• The adversative conjunction 'however' is commonly used to introduce contrasting ideas in academic writing.
• I don't like mushrooms; however, I still eat them because they're good for me.
• I wanted to go out with my friends, but my mom said no way.
• Life is full of adversative moments, but they only make us stronger in the end.

adjective describing or tending to advocate or support a particular cause or policy

• The speaker's tone was highly advocative during the debate, urging for policy change.
• She always gets advocative when talking about her favorite sports team.
• I'm feeling advocative about this new restaurant in town, let's check it out!
• His artwork was advocative of the struggles faced by marginalized communities.

noun a person who is appointed to present arguments against a proposed canonization or beatification in the Roman Catholic Church

• The advocatus diaboli presented a compelling argument against the canonization of the proposed saint.
• The advocatus diaboli really knows how to play devil's advocate in any debate.
• I heard the advocatus diaboli is going to try and poke holes in our plan, so we better be prepared.
• Some people see him as the advocatus diaboli, always questioning authority and challenging the status quo.