Question

What is the opposite of hyperbole? In other words, what word is used to refer to the rhetorical use of understatement?

Answer 1

Hint: Here we have to find the opposite for the given word. Words having opposite meanings are called antonyms. Exaggeration and overstatement are synonymous to ‘hyperbole’.

Complete answer:
Hyperbole is a rhetorical device in which exaggeration and overstatements are used in speech, poetry or writings. Since it is an exaggeration of a situation, it is not meant to be taken literally. For e.g. ‘He was so angry, I thought he was going to kill me!’ The sentence is meant to convey the message that someone is very angry. It does not mean that the person actually wants to kill someone. This is an exaggeration or overstatement. Such rhetorical use of exaggeration is called hyperbole. The term ‘hyperbole’ comes from the Greek word hyperbole, which means to go above or beyond.

The opposite of hyperbole is litotes. Litotes is a rhetorical device in which understatements are used. Understatements are statements that present something as being smaller or less good or of less importance as compared to what it actually is. For e.g. ‘The movie was not bad’ is an understatement that actually means that the movie was good. ‘He’s not the kindest person I know,’ would mean that ‘he is an unkind person.’ The term ‘litotes’ is derived from the Greek word lithos, which means small, plain or meager.

Note:
- A rhetorical device is also called a persuasive device, stylistic device.
- It is used to convey messages to someone or an audience, with an aim of persuading them towards considering a topic.
- It is a device which makes the position of the speaker more compelling than it would otherwise be.