rhetorical

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   given to rhetoric, emphasizing style at the expense of thought

   mere rhetorical frippery

2. 2
   adj

   of or relating to rhetoric

   accepted two or three verbal and rhetorical changes I suggested- W.A.White

3. 3
   adj

   Part of or similar to rhetoric, the use of language as a means to persuade.

   A rhetorical question is one used merely to make a point, with no response expected.

4. 4
   adj

   Not earnest, or presented only for the purpose of an argument.

   Unfortunately, she has used the attack as a launch pad for a bizarre and undercooked exercise in rhetorical bothsidesism, in which she argues that American Jews should be just as worried about college students who overzealously criticize Israel as they are about the aspiring Einsatzgruppen who shoot up shuls.

5. 5
   noun

   A study or exercise in rhetoric.

Etymology

From Middle English rethorycal, rethoricalle, rethorycall, from rethorik, rhetoric (noun) or Latin rēthoricus, rhētoricus, from Ancient Greek ῥητορικός (rhētorikós, “concerning public speaking”). By surface analysis, rhetoric + -al.