rhetorical
Part of or similar to rhetoric, the use of language as a means to persuadePart of or similar to rhetoric, the use of language as a means to persuade.
» That was just a rhetorical question.
Meaning
3 senses(not comparable)Part of or similar to rhetoric, the use of language as a means to persuade.
rhetorisch
ритори́ческийritoríčeskij
ритори́чнийrytorýčnyj
(not comparable)Not earnest, or presented only for the purpose of an argument.
(not comparable)Asked for dramatic or persuasive effect, rather than to get an answer.
'"Are you an idiot? Actually, don't answer that, it was rhetorical."
- given to rhetoric, emphasizing style at the expense of thought
- of or relating to rhetoric
Examples
28 sentencesThat was just a rhetorical question.
I assume that was a rhetorical question.
ruЯ предполагаю, что это был риторический вопрос.
I assume that that was a rhetorical question.
ruЯ полагаю, это был риторический вопрос.
Have you ever asked me a question that wasn't rhetorical?
Tom must've realized it was a rhetorical question, because he didn't answer.
Translations
8 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
From Middle English rethorycal, rethoricalle, rethorycall, from rethorik, rhetoric (noun)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.
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Antonyms
1 antonymsWord family
13 related wordsCollocations
3 patterns- a rhetorical question
- rhetorical question
- was a rhetorical