litotes — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A figure of speech whereby something is stated by denying its opposite.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • rhetoric
   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   antenantiosismeiosismoderatour

   Antonyms

   hyperbole

   Broader terms

   ironyunderstatementmeiosis

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   The delicacy which prompts a later generation to reject that name is by no means necessarily a result of stricter habits, is far more often due to the flatness which comes of untiring repetition and to the greater piquancy of litotes.

2. A figure of speech whereby something is stated by denying its opposite. The negation of a negative quality to assert a positive.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • especially
   • rhetoric
   • Uncountable

Noun

1. understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary)

   Synonyms

   meiosis

   Broader terms

   rhetorical deviceunderstatement

   Examples

   saying ‘I was not a little upset’ when you mean ‘I was very upset’ is an example of litotes