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Soliloquy vs Rhetoric - What's the difference?

soliloquy | rhetoric |

As nouns the difference between soliloquy and rhetoric

is that soliloquy is (drama) the act of a character speaking to themselves so as to reveal their thoughts to the audience while rhetoric is the art of using language, especially public speaking, as a means to persuade.

As a verb soliloquy

is (very|rare) to issue a soliloquy.

As an adjective rhetoric is

.

soliloquy

Noun

(soliloquies)
  • (drama) The act of a character speaking to themselves so as to reveal their thoughts to the audience.
  • At the end of the second act the main villain gave a soliloquy detailing his plans to attack the protagonist.
  • A speech or written discourse in this form.
  • *
  • Usage notes

    Primarily used of theater, particularly the works of (William Shakespeare), as a term of art, particularly for finely-crafted speeches. An archetype is the “(To be or not to be)” soliloquy in (Hamlet). In informal speech or discussions of popular culture, the term monologue is used instead, generally in a pejorative sense, suggesting that the speaker is a self-centered boor who won’t shut up.

    Synonyms

    * (speech or written discourse) monologue

    Antonyms

    * (discourse of a single person) colloquy, dialogue, dialog

    Hypernyms

    * locution * oration

    Derived terms

    * soliloquist * soliloquize

    See also

    * apostrophe * stage whisper

    Verb

  • (very, rare) To issue a soliloquy.
  • Synonyms

    * soliloquize (much more common)

    rhetoric

    Alternative forms

    * rhetorick (obsolete)

    Adjective

  • Noun

  • The art of using language, especially public speaking, as a means to persuade.
  • Meaningless language with an exaggerated style intended to impress.
  • It’s only so much rhetoric .

    Usage notes

    * Adjectives often applied to "rhetoric": political, legal, visual, classical, ancient, violent, empty, inflammatory, hateful, heated, fiery, vitriolic, angry, overheated, extreme.

    Synonyms

    * (l)

    Derived terms

    * rhetorical * rhetorician

    See also

    * preterition *

    Anagrams

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