rhetoric

noun

study of the technique and rules for using language effectively (especially in public speaking)

loud and confused and empty talk

high-flown style

using language effectively to please or persuade

Roots

rhetorrhetor- · Greek · orator, speaker

Synonyms for rhetoric

magniloquencen grandiloquencen grandiosityn speechmakingn bombastn demagogismn verbiagen oratoryn facundityn eloquencen

Synonyms & related words for rhetoric

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of rhetoric — including magniloquence, grandiloquence, grandiosity, speechmaking, bombast, demagogism. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to rhetoric

Explore words related to rhetoric — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include antimetabole, antiphrastic, antiphrastically, antonomastically, antonomastic, anacoluthic, surnamer, antiphrasis. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for rhetoric

Common synonyms for rhetoric include magniloquence, grandiloquence, grandiosity, speechmaking, bombast, demagogism, verbiage, oratory — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does rhetoric come from?

The word rhetoric breaks down into one root of Greek origin: the root rhetor-, from Greek rhetor (“orator, speaker”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.