litotes

noun

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

Roots

litoteslitotes- · Greek · plainness, simplicity

Synonyms & related words for litotes

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Words related to litotes

Explore words related to litotes — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include understatement, catachresis, overstatement, hendiadys, antiphrasis, hyperbolist, periphrase, metalepsis. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Where does litotes come from?

The word litotes breaks down into one root of Greek origin: the root litotes, from Greek litotes (“plainness, simplicity”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.