Category: rhetoric

65 entries.

• Acrimoniousadjective— Bitter, hostile, or sharp in tone, especially during a dispute.
• Agglutinativeadjective— (Of a language) forming words predominantly by agglutination, rather than by inflection or by using isolated elements.
• Aphorismnoun— A pithy observation that contains a general truth.
• Bandyverb— To casually exchange or toss around ideas, remarks, or suggestions.
• Belaborverb— 1. Argue or elaborate a subject in excessive detail. 2. Attack or assault someone physically or verbally.
• Blatherverb— Talk longwindedly without making much sense.
• Bombasticadjective— High-sounding but with little meaning; inflated.
• Brevitynoun— Concise and exact use of words in writing or speech.
• Bunkum and Balderdashphrase— Nonsense.
• Cacophonynoun— A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.
• Cajoleverb— Persuade someone to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery.
• Castigateverb— To criticize or reprimand someone severely.
• Chideverb— To scold or mildly reprimand someone.
• Cogentadjective— Clear, logical, and convincing.
• Diatribenoun— A forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something.
• Dictumnoun— A formal pronouncement from an authoritative source.
• Discoursenoun— Written or spoken communication or debate.
• Elucidateverb— Make something clear; explain.
• Encomiumnoun— A speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly.
• Equivocaladjective— Open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous.
• Excoriateverb— Criticize someone or something very harshly.
• Expositionnoun— A comprehensive description and explanation of an idea or theory.
• Extemporaneousadjective— Spoken or done without preparation.
• Gesticulateverb— To make or use gestures, especially in an animated or excited manner with or instead of speech.
• Gutturaladjective— (Of a speech sound) produced in the throat; harsh-sounding.
• Haranguenoun— A lengthy and aggressive speech.
• Honorificnoun— A title or word implying or expressing high status, politeness, or respect.
• Hyperbolenoun— Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
• Hyperbolicadjective— Exaggerated; hyperbolical.
• Incantationnoun— A powerful, ritualistic formula of words or sounds spoken, chanted, or sung to produce a magical effect, cast a spell, or conjure spirits.
• Intonationnoun— The rise and fall of the voice in speaking.
• Laconicadjective— Using very few words, often in a deliberately restrained way.
• Lucidadjective— Expressed clearly; easy to understand.
• Malapropismnoun— The mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with unintentionally amusing effect.
• Malignverb— (v.) Speak about someone in a spitefully critical manner; (adj.) evil in nature or effect.
• Monosyllabicallyadverb— Using or speaking in a way that consists of words with only one syllable, often in a very brief, curt, or terse manner.
• Neologismnoun— A newly coined word or expression.
• Non Sequiturphrase— A conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement.
• Pantomimenoun— A dramatic entertainment in which performers express meaning through gestures accompanied by music.
• Patoisnoun— The dialect of the common people of a region, differing from the standard language.
• Pejorativeadjective— Expressing contempt or disapproval.
• Pithnoun— The essence of something.
• Pithyadjective— Brief but rich in meaning or insight.
• Placateverb— Make someone less angry or hostile.
• Platitudenoun— A remark or statement that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful.
• Polemicallyadverb— Expressing or constituting a strongly critical attack on or controversial opinion about someone or something.
• Prattlingverb— Talk at length in a foolish or inconsequential way.
• Prosaicadjective— Having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty; commonplace.
• Proselytizingverb— The action of attempting to convert someone from one religion, belief, or opinion to another.
• Quibbleverb— (n.) A slight objection or criticism about a trivial matter; (v.) argue or raise objections about a trivial matter.
• Rejoindernoun— A reply, especially a sharp or witty one.
• Salientadjective— most noticeable or important.
• Sophistrynoun— The use of fallacious arguments, especially with the intention of deceiving.
• Squabbleverb— To engage in a petty quarrel.
• Stridencynoun— Having a shrill, irritating quality or character.
• Stridentadjective— Loud and harsh; grating.
• Supplicateverb— Ask or beg for something earnestly or humbly.
• Tautologicaladjective— Saying or expressing the same thing twice over in different words.
• Tautologynoun— The saying of the same thing twice in different words, generally considered to be a fault of style.
• Tenableadjective— Able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection.
• Terseadjective— Brief and direct, sometimes to the point of seeming abrupt.
• Treatiseverb— A written work dealing formally and systematically with a subject.
• Turgidadjective— (Of language or style) tediously pompous or bombastic.
• Unletteredadjective— Lacking facility in reading and writing.
• Vitriolnoun— Bitterly harsh or caustic language or criticism.