Synonyms for rhetoric
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Grandiosity
2. Empty words
empty words informal, palaver, hot air
3. Oratory
oratory, declamation, eloquence, diction, elocution, speechmaking
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
The art of using language, especially public speaking, as a means to persuade.
- n. 2
Meaningless language with an exaggerated style intended to impress.
It’s only so much rhetoric.
Related words
- Word family
- rhetorical rhetorician
- Phrases
- current-traditional rhetoric
Forms
- Plural
- rhetorics → grandiosities, grandiloquences, magniloquences, ornatenesses…
Example sentences
- palaver We have no time to waste in idle palaver.
- oratory You need to inject pauses into your oratory delivery.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| rhetoric | rising | |
| grandiosity | rising | |
| grandiloquence | steady | |
| magniloquence | falling | |
| ornateness | falling | |
| palaver | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 7 letters
- oratory4, diction2, palaver
- 9 letters
- eloquence3, elocution4, wordcraft
- 10 letters
- ornateness
- 11 letters
- grandiosity, declamation, speechcraft
- 12 letters
- speechmaking
- 13 letters
- magniloquence
- 14 letters
- grandiloquence
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (oratory4 = 4 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- rhétorique
- Italiano
- retorica
- Deutsch
- Redekunst