What is the meaning of litotes?

noun

  • Understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary. )
    • usage: "saying `I was not a little upset' when you mean `I was very upset' is an example of litotes"
WordNet 3.0 © 2006 by Princeton University
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APAWordNet. (2010). litotes. Retrieved September 21, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/litotes/definitions/1218930
ChicagoWordNet. 2010. "litotes" http://smartdefine.org/litotes/definitions/1218930 (accessed September 21, 2026).
HarvardWordNet 2010, litotes, Smart Define, viewed 21 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/litotes/definitions/1218930>.
MLAWordNet. "litotes" 23 October 2010. Web. 21 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/litotes/definitions/1218930>
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