word
Literary
Litotes
LY-toh-teez
/ˈlaɪtətiːz/Listen
Hear it in a clear American voice. Slow it down to catch each syllable.
Syllable breakdown
Litotes
Dictionary meaning
Understatement using negation of the opposite, e.g., 'not bad' for 'very good'.
Examples
- 'Not a small achievement' when something is extraordinary is litotes.
Common mispronunciations
lih-TOH-tees
Pronunciation tips
Three syllables. Stress on first syllable.
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