Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing
Rhetoric
noun
/ RET-uh-rik /
Easy
Meaning
The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing; language that is designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect but that is often perceived as lacking in sincerity or substance.
Origin / Etymology
Greek rhetorike (the art of the orator), from rhetor (public speaker)
Synonyms
Oratory
Discourse
Eloquence
Antonyms
Substance
Action
Reality
Example Sentence
"India's development rhetoric about doubling farmers' incomes by 2022 ran headlong into ground realities of agrarian distress, underscoring the gap between political promises and structural reform."
🎯 UPSC Usage
Use in Essay papers and GS Mains answers to distinguish between stated policy intentions and actual outcomes. Also relevant in GS2 when analysing political communication, electoral promises, and the credibility of policy announcements.
Relevant Subjects