rhetorically

[ri-tawr-ik-lee, -tor-]

adverb

1. in a way that uses language for style or effect.

   These essays discuss how the term participatory has been deployed rhetorically by a range of institutions.

2. not expecting an answer, either because the answer is unknowable or because it is obvious.

   I am not asking the question rhetorically or snidely.

3. in way that uses language in an exaggerated way.

   The realities of the global marketplace are quite apparent; they don't need to be rhetorically beaten to death.

4. in a way that uses specialized literary language, such as figures of speech.

   Some of the entries are concise, but most of them are verbally and rhetorically elaborate.

5. in a way that uses language particularly effectively.

   Her testimony was rhetorically strong, but scientifically weak.

6. using words, especially in the absence of action.

   He fails to demonstrate the validity of his claims, but merely asserts them rhetorically.

Other Word Forms

• nonrhetorically adverb
• unrhetorically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of rhetorically¹

rhetorical ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

“Who’s going to turn up next—Cleopatra?” the Gypsy merrily and rhetorically cried.

Read more on Literature

“The fact that defensives are underperforming, is that a good thing or a bad thing?” he asked, rhetorically.

Read more on Barron's

The Biden administration, though rhetorically committed to many of these broader economic liberalization goals, focused most of its efforts on constraining China’s technological ambitions.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Why would you build a very expensive facility that could be a pile of rubble tomorrow?” he asks rhetorically.

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True believers have a way of rhetorically overdoing it.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal