Meanings
- uncountableThe art of political manipulation, especially by the use of language.
1 more example
Logic is concerned with the truth-value of sentences. Grammar is concerned with the communications-value of sentences. Rhetoric is concerned with the persuasion-value of sentences. And heresthetic is concerned with the strategy-value of sentences. In each case, the art involves the use of language to accomplish some purpose: to arrive at truth, to communicate, to persuade, and to manipulate.
1986, William H. Riker, The Art of Political Manipulation
Origin
Coined by William Riker, as the companion to rhetoric. From heresy.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
heresthetic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heresthetic
“heresthetic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heresthetic. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “heresthetic,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heresthetic.
Source: heresthetic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.