HOW TO PRONOUNCE
rhetoric
/ˈɹɛtɚɪk/
Press play to hear how to pronounce rhetoric.
American Pronunciation Guide · 0:49
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The opening h is silent.
Start directly with r and stress the first syllable. The final c sounds like k, and the middle r-colored vowel stays lighter than the opening.
3 syllables · Stress on syllable 1
TRY SAYING
“The speech relied on familiar rhetoric.”
APG practice sentence · CC BY-SA 4.0
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗What does rhetoric mean?
noun
- The art of using language, especially public speaking, as a means to persuade.
adjective
- Synonym of rhetorical.
More meanings (1)
noun
- (derogatory) Meaningless language with an exaggerated style intended to impress.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˈɹɛtɚɪk/
Pronunciation used in the listening tip.
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
It was orthodox enough, but had been planned as the framework for picturesque and emotional rhetoric rather than doctrinal edification.
It was Napoleon, I believe, who said that there is only one figure in rhetoric of serious importance, namely, repetition.
More book examples (3)
As the demand increased, the school, both of philosophy and rhetoric, became stationary, first in Athens, and afterwards in several other cities.
Though Bacon did not arm his philosophy with the weapons of logic, he adorned her profusely with all the richest decorations of rhetoric.
Then followed a speech, a masterpiece of rhetoric, which occupied nearly a day in the delivery, and to which no summary can do justice.