Litotes is a figure of speech that makes a statement by denying its opposite, often to create understatement or a restrained, ironic tone. A poet might say something like "not unhappy" or "no small feat" to suggest a stronger meaning than the words at face value.
Because litotes works through negation, it often sounds quieter or more measured than direct praise or criticism, which can make the emotion feel sharpened rather than exaggerated.
Example
She was not afraid of the dark,
not unkind to the lonely shore;
she walked through winter's sharp white air
and called it no small work to endure.
Litotes:
- "[…] no ordinary city." Acts 21:39 (NIV)
- "That [sword] was not useless / to the warrior now." (Beowulf)
- "O Oedipus, unhappy Oedipus!" (Oedipus the King)
- "He was not unfamiliar with the works of Dickens."
- "The food was not bad."
- "Reaching the moon was no ordinary task."
- "That was no big deal."
- "Don't fail me now!"
As a means of saying:
- "[…] an impressive city."
- "The sword was useful."
- "O miserable Oedipus!"
- "He was well acquainted with the works of Dickens."
- "The food was good."
- "Reaching the moon was a fantastic task."
- "That was nothing."
- "Help me!"
[n] understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary); "saying `I was not a little upset' when you mean `I was very upset' is an example of litotes"