SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
rhetoric
noun
The art of effective expression; also language criticized as impressive but lacking substance.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Effective expression
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topRhetoric concerns techniques of effective expression, including written language. Oratory and public speaking are narrower spoken applications.
Impressive but empty language
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topThis critical sense implies more verbal display than substance. Eloquence alone does not carry that criticism.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See rhetoric in use
The seminar examines how rhetoric shapes persuasive essays.
At a neighborhood exhibition meeting, Felix admired the speaker's rhetoric: a clear structure and memorable examples made the proposal easy to follow.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license