Litotes is a figure of speech featuring a phrase that utilizes negative wording or terms to express a positive assertion or statement. Litotes is a common literary device, most often used in speech, rhetoric, and nonfiction. As a figure of speech, the meaning of litotes is not literal.

Here’s a quick and simple definition: Litotes is a figure of speech and a form of understatement in which a sentiment is expressed ironically by negating its contrary.

In rhetoric, litotes (/ laɪˈtoʊtiːz, ˈlaɪtətiːz /, US: / ˈlɪtətiːz /), [1] also known classically as antenantiosis or moderatour, is a figure of speech and form of irony in which understatement is used to emphasize a point by stating a negative to further affirm a positive, often incorporating double negatives for effect. [2][3][4] A form of und...

Dec 4, 2024 · Litotes (pronounced lai-tow-teez) is when a double negative is used to express a positive. It’s a form of understatement that emphasizes an idea by negating the opposite idea of what you want to convey.

Oct 10, 2024 · Litotes (pronounced lie-tuh-teez) is a figure of speech used to express an affirmative by denying its opposite. It requires the use of a negative word and an understatement. In a typical sentence using litotes, the negative statement implies a positive meaning, often with more emphasis than a direct affirmative statement would provide.

Litotes are a way to actually emphasize the positive by using a double negative. Litotes causes the listener to think and consider the statement. Litotes are also a way to skirt an issue or to try to save face.

Litotes is a figure of speech that includes a phrase in which a negative word is used in order to express something positive. It’s commonly used in novels, short stories, plays, and even poems. Despite its complex-sounding definition, it is also quite common in everyday speech.

Oct 19, 2024 · Litotes is a figure of speech used to express an idea by denying its opposite. It’s a way of saying something is good by saying it’s not bad. For example, if someone says, “She’s not unkind,” they mean “She’s kind.” This technique is often used to …

Jan 9, 2025 · Litotes is a figure of speech that is quite distinct due to its reliance on negative phrasing, which differentiates it from simple understatement. It often incorporates irony, amplifying the situation by negating the opposite.

Oct 28, 2024 · Litotes is a form of the figure of speech which negates a positive in order to convey understated irony. The classic example of litotes is the term ‘not bad.’ As you can see, both of these words are negative but when placed together form a positive sentence. In most contexts, the use of litotes is used to understate a thing or situation.