rhetorical

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Doubts will rise among the U.S.’s allies in Asia, despite rhetorical affirmations of strong ties, said Henrietta Levin, a former National Security Council director for China during the Biden administration.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Culhane’s impression of the conservative pundit was pretty impressive, capturing his cadence and habit of using rhetorical questions — I hope we see it again.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

In a concurring opinion, Gorsuch stated the stakes more plainly by posing a rhetorical question: If the president’s argument was given credence, then “what do we make of the Constitution’s text?”

From Salon • Feb. 21, 2026

On the rhetorical Richter scale of presidential admonishments, this was seen by the prime minister's team as pretty minor, not least because later in the same exchanges Trump described Xi as a "friend".

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2026

“Here is another situation where repetition is not a rhetorical virtue. Clean up the mess, Mr. Hoodhood,” said Mrs. Baker.

From "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt