Litotes: How Negative Words are Used to Express the Opposite

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Litotes (also called antenantiosis or moderatour) is a figure of speech where a negative statement is used to affirm a positive statement. It sounds strange and complicated but is actually one of the most used rhetorical devices in English.

It’s a clever use of language that utilizes verbal irony and understatement to enhance speech. In fact, a lot of common expressions you use are considered litotes.

What is Litotes?

Litotes is a form of understatement where you use negative words to express their opposite. 

While the definition is confusing, this figure of speech is better understood in practice. 

Consider these sentences:

  • The food is not bad at all! (It’s actually good.)
  • Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you. (I did, in fact, warn you.)
  • I don’t hate it. (I actually like it.)

All are negative statements whose meanings are actually the contrary. You basically say what something is by stating what it is not.

Litotes depend a lot on context for them to work. Some phrases can work as litotes in specific cases but are simple strings of words in another.

For example, the phrase “not my cup of tea” can be intended as literal without any litotic meaning. Though it is commonly used to say something isn’t to your taste.  Still, what if someone handed you tea that’s not yours, right?

The Purpose of Litotes 

Litotes is regularly used in rhetoric. You can use it to spice your speech up, making it feel more persuasive and eloquent. Its ambiguity also means that you’re less likely to alienate someone while talking.

You can also use it to create emphasis by making an extreme comparison. Saying that a playwright “is no Shakespeare” implies just how bad a writer they are. You’re highlighting a gap in skills by deliberately invoking the name of a master.

In other cases, litotes is also used as a form of euphemism. You can use it to soften what would otherwise be a harsh statement. “He’s not the friendliest person” is much more palatable than “He’s an awful person.”

Litotes in Everyday Speech

Here are a few more examples of litotes that have become common expressions used by everyone:

  • It’s not that hard. (It’s easy.)
  • Not too shabby (Actually nice!)
  • You’re not wrong. (You’re right.)
  • Not uncommon (It’s normal.)
  • Non-trivial (Quite complex.)
  • It’s not the cheapest… (It’s a bit expensive…)
  • He’s not as young as he used to be. (He’s old.)
  • Not my favorite (I don’t like it.)
  • I wouldn’t say no. (I’ll say yes.)
  • It’s not rocket science. (It’s easy.)
  • It’s not a small amount of money. (It’s a lot.)
  • She’s not doing too badly. (She’s doing well.)
  • He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. (He’s slow.)
  • It’s not the best weather today. (It’s horrible.)
  • I can’t argue with that. (I actually agree with you.)
  • Your decision is less than smart. (It’s stupid.)
  • You won’t be sorry. (You’ll be glad.)

Litotes in Literature and Pop Culture

You can also find many examples of litotes in your favorite books, movies, and tv series. Here are just a few.

Rules in Using Litotes

Litotes can be fun to use in writing but can also quickly become confusing to writers and readers alike. Here are a few “rules” you should consider when using this figure of speech.

1. Litotes is always a form of understatement.

An understatement is the presentation of something as either weaker, smaller, or less important than it really is. Litotes is a specific form of understatement that uses negative syntax.

Some phrases can initially look like litotes, but without creating any understatement, they’re not considered so. The phrase “leave no stone unturned” comes to mind. While it does have a double negative, there’s no attempt at understating the situation, just a command to be thorough.

2. Always include negation.

A core characteristic of litotes is using a negative statement to express a positive. This is what separates it from other types of understatements.

For example, saying that a person’s cooking is “passable” isn’t litotes as you’re not denying anything. But saying that it’s “not terrible” is. 

3. Add some kind of extreme or superlative statement.

Litotes is obvious in its understatement, usually through the use of extreme words (“starving”, “freezing”, “terrible”) or superlatives (“best”, “most”).

The goal is to quickly convey the irony of the understatement. Saying “I’m not hungry” isn’t as dramatic as “I’m not going to starve to death.” It might even be taken literally. What you want is to emphasize that while you may not be starving to death, you are hungry.

4. Pay attention to context, intonation, and other elements that affect speech.

As stated above, context greatly determines how a person interprets litotes, but so do natural pauses, intonation, and other speech elements.

Consider these two sentences:

  • Her singing isn’t bad.
  • Her singing isn’t…bad, per se.

The first might simply mean that her singing is average. If so, it’s not a case of litotes as it means exactly what it says. The second, because of the pause and emphasis on bad, makes it easier to understand that the speaker thinks her singing is actually terrible.

Limitations of Litotes

Litotes aren’t the most direct ways to say things. While they can be clever and funny, they may also be convoluted and vague.

For example, saying “He’s not unhappy with their choice.” implies that the subject is happy to an extent. But it might also say that he’s not really happy about it. This vagueness can be advantageous if you want to avoid subjects you’re uncomfortable with, but it also means risking the chance of being misunderstood.

Also, some situations will benefit more from precise and clear language. Imagine being in any event that is fast-paced, stressful, and chaotic. You’ll need to communicate with people clearly so they’ll understand what you mean as fast as possible. 

What other examples of litotes can you think of? Share it in the comments below!

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