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Understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary)
Answer for the clue "Understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary) ", 7 letters:
litotes
Alternative clues for the word litotes
Word definitions for litotes in dictionaries
Wikipedia
Word definitions in Wikipedia
In rhetoric , litotes (, or ) is a figure of speech wherein understatement is used to emphasize a point by stating a negative to further affirm a positive, often incorporating double negatives for effect. For example, "She's not bad looking" could be used ...
Wiktionary
Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. (context rhetoric English) A figure of speech in which the speaker emphasizes the magnitude of a statement by denying its opposite; a figure of speech in which understatement is used with negation to express a positive attribute; a form of irony
Usage examples of litotes.
With no small joy we have observed the litotes bushes, once more in flower down by the shores of our literal sea.