rhetorical

This term describes language used as a tool for persuasion or stylistic impact. It often implies a gap between the literal meaning of the words and the actual intention of the speaker, where the goal is to provoke thought or emphasize a point rather than to initiate a dialogue. In modern usage, it frequently carries a slightly negative or skeptical connotation, suggesting that a statement is performative, insincere, or overly ornate. When someone describes a speech as rhetorical, they might be implying it is more about the art of manipulation than the truth of the facts.