(of a question 问题 asked only to make a statement or to produce an effect rather than to get an answer 反问的；反诘的 ‘Don't you care what I do?’ he asked, but it was a rhetorical question. “我做什么，难道你不关心吗？” 他问道，可那是个反问。 🔊🔊
- (formal, often disapproving)
(of a speech or piece of writing 言语或文章 intended to influence people, but not completely honest or sincere 辞藻华丽的；虚夸的；花言巧语的 - (formal)
connected with the art of rhetoric 修辞的；修辞性的；带有修辞色彩的 the use of rhetorical devices such as metaphor and irony 诸如暗喻和反讽等修辞手法的运用 She ended her speech with a rhetorical flourish. 她以夸夸其谈的话语结束了演讲。
Word Originlate Middle English (first used in the sense ‘eloquently expressed’): via Latin from Greek rhētorikos (from rhētor ‘rhetor’) + -al.