rhetorical

Universal Words adjective 1 (of a question) asked only to make a statement or to produce an effect rather than to get an answer: 'Don't you care what I do?' he asked, but it was a rhetorical question. 2 (formal, often disapproving) (of a speech or piece of writing) intended to influence people, but not completely honest or sincere 3 (formal) connected with the art of RHETORIC: the use of rhetorical devices such as metaphor and irony * rhetorical techniques / structures * She ended her speech with a rhetorical flourish. rhetorically adverb: 'Do you think I'm stupid?' she asked rhetorically. * a rhetorically structured essay