Definitions for rhetorical question
rhetor·i·cal ques·tion

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

1. 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"

WiktionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. rhetorical questionnoun

   A question posed only for dramatic or persuasive effect.

2. rhetorical questionnoun

   A question to which the asker does not expect an answer.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. 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.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. rhetorical question

   A rhetorical question is a type of question that is asked not to receive an answer, but rather to create dramatic effect, to make a point, or to draw attention to, exposes, or challenge something. It is typically used as a persuasive device, or to emphasize a point that the speaker believes is already obvious or self-evident.

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. 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

1. • Statement

How to pronounce rhetorical question?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say rhetorical question in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of rhetorical question in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of rhetorical question in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of rhetorical question in a Sentence

1. The Spokesman-Review:

   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.

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=rhetorical question
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Rhetorical_Question
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhetorical_Question
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=rhetorical question