What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
speechifying
Example
The politician spent the entire evening speechifying about his accomplishments. [speechifying: verb]
Example
The CEO's speechifying was met with polite applause but little enthusiasm. [speechifying: noun]
rhetoric
Example
The candidate's rhetoric was powerful and persuasive, but lacked substance. [rhetoric: noun]
Example
The professor taught us about the various techniques of rhetoric in persuasive writing. [rhetoric: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Rhetoric is more commonly used than speechifying in academic and formal contexts. Speechifying is less common and is often used in a negative sense to describe long and boring speeches.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between speechifying and rhetoric?
Rhetoric is typically associated with formal or academic contexts, while speechifying can be used in both formal and informal settings, but is often considered less formal than rhetoric.
