A certain amount of rhetoric can be sexy (6)
I believe the answer is:
erotic
'sexy' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'a certain amount of rhetoric' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'amount' could be 't' (T is an example) and 't' is located in the answer.
'of' could be 'o' and 'o' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'eric' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'can be' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for erotic that I've seen before include "Steamy" , "Calculated to arouse sexual feelings" , "Conducive to arousing sexual desire" , "Amatory" , "Titillating" .)