What does rhetorical question mean?
Definitions for rhetorical question
rhetor·i·cal ques·tion
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word rhetorical question.
Princeton's WordNet
rhetorical questionnoun
a statement that is formulated as a question but that is not supposed to be answered
"he liked to make his points with rhetorical questions"
Wiktionary
rhetorical questionnoun
A question posed only for dramatic or persuasive effect.
rhetorical questionnoun
A question to which the asker does not expect an answer.
Wikipedia
Rhetorical question
A rhetorical question is one for which the questioner does not expect a direct answer: in many cases it may be intended to start a discourse, or as a means of displaying or emphasize the speaker's or author's opinion on a topic.A common example is the question "Can't you do anything right?" This question, when posed, is intended not to ask about the listener's ability but rather to insinuate the listener's lack of ability.
Wikidata
Rhetorical question
A rhetorical question is a figure of speech in the form of a question that is asked in order to make a point. The question is used as a rhetorical device, posed for the sake of encouraging its listener to consider a message or viewpoint. Though these are technically questions, they do not always require a question mark. For example, the question "Can't you do anything right?" is asked not to gain information about the ability of the person being spoken to, but rather to insinuate that the person always fails. While sometimes amusing and even humorous, rhetorical questions are rarely meant for pure, comedic effect. A carefully crafted question can, if delivered well, persuade an audience to believe in the position of the speaker. In simple terms, it is a question asked more to produce an effect than to summon an answer.
Matched Categories
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of rhetorical question in Chaldean Numerology is: 2
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of rhetorical question in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4
Examples of rhetorical question in a Sentence
I was being rhetorical, because I was trying to make the point that equalizing a colonoscopy to this particular procedure was apples and oranges, so I was asking a rhetorical question that was designed to make her say that they weren't the same thing, and she did so. It was the response I wanted.
Translations for rhetorical question
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- řečnická otázkaCzech
- rhetorische FrageGerman
- pregunta retóricaSpanish
- kysymysFinnish
- question rhétoriqueFrench
- भाषणगत सवालHindi
- ræðuspurning, retorísk spurningIcelandic
- 修辞疑問, 反語Japanese
- 수사학적 질문Korean
- pirsa retorîkKurdish
- pātai mākoi, ui makihoi, ui mākoiMāori
- реторичко прашањеMacedonian
- pytania retoryczne, pytanie retorycznePolish
- [[pergunta]] [[retórica]]Portuguese
- întrebare retoricăRomanian
- риторический вопросRussian
- retorisk frågaSwedish
- சொல்லாட்சிக் கேள்விTamil
- retorik soru, cümle değerli soru, tümce değerli soruTurkish
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"rhetorical question." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 5 May 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/rhetorical+question>.
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