Litotes vs. Hyperbole — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 30, 2024
Litotes is an understatement using double negatives or a negative to affirm a positive, subtly enhancing the meaning. Hyperbole exaggerates to create emphasis or effect, often humorously.
Difference Between Litotes and Hyperbole
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Litotes, a rhetorical device, achieves emphasis through understatement, often by negating the opposite of what is meant, thereby subtly highlighting the truth. For example, saying "not bad" to mean "good" is a common form of litotes. In contrast, hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration, used to heighten effect, create emphasis, or provoke humor. An example of hyperbole is "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse," clearly exaggerating the speaker's level of hunger.
While litotes downplays the subject to convey a positive assertion more gently or subtly, hyperbole amplifies aspects of the subject to an unrealistic level. Litotes often require the audience to infer the actual meaning, engaging them more deeply with the content, whereas hyperbole's overt exaggeration is usually immediately apparent, making its figurative nature clear and often adding a humorous or dramatic effect.
The effectiveness of litotes lies in its power to strengthen a statement by irony, using negation to affirm something positively, thus inviting the listener or reader to consider the understated meaning. Hyperbole, on the other hand, works through its stark contrast with reality, making the exaggerated claim stand out, thereby emphasizing the underlying message without the need for interpretation.
Litotes can convey modesty, tact, or euphemism, often softening a statement to make it more palatable or to express humility. Hyperbole, by exaggerating, can intensify feelings, create a strong impression, or convey the enormity of a concept in a way that literal language cannot. Both devices, while opposite in their approach to modifying reality—through minimization and maximization, respectively—are tools that enrich language, add depth to communication, and engage audiences by either drawing them into an active interpretation or providing vivid, memorable imagery.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Understatement by negating the opposite
Exaggeration for emphasis or effect
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Purpose
Subtly enhance meaning, often with irony
Create emphasis, provoke humor, or add drama
Method
Uses double negatives or negation
Uses exaggeration beyond realism
Audience Engagement
Requires inference for full appreciation
Directly engages with clear exaggeration
Tone
Can be modest, tactful, or convey humility
Often humorous, dramatic, or intensely emphatic
Compare with Definitions
Litotes
Affirms a positive through a negative.
He's not unlike his brother means he is similar to his brother.
Hyperbole
Exaggeration for emphasis or effect.
I've told you a million times emphasizes repeated warnings.
Litotes
Understatement by negating the opposite.
Saying It's not uncommon to mean something is common.
Hyperbole
Deliberate overstatement beyond reality.
This bag weighs a ton exaggerates its heaviness.
Litotes
Subtly enhances meaning.
She's not unkind subtly suggests that she is kind or considerate.
Hyperbole
Creates vivid, memorable imagery.
Her smile was brighter than the sun paints a vivid picture.
Litotes
Can express modesty or tact.
I did not do it alone modestly acknowledges others' contributions.
Hyperbole
Can be humorous or dramatic.
I'm dying of thirst for dramatic emphasis on being very thirsty.
Litotes
Engages audience through inference.
The trip was not unenjoyable invites the audience to infer it was enjoyable.
Hyperbole
Intensifies feelings or concepts.
An ocean of tears intensifies the concept of a lot of crying.
Litotes
In rhetoric, litotes (, US: or ; also known classically as antenantiosis or moderatour) is a figure of speech and form of verbal irony in which understatement is used to emphasize a point by stating a negative to further affirm a positive, often incorporating double negatives for effect. Litotes is a form of understatement, more specifically meiosis, and is always deliberate with the intention of emphasis.
Hyperbole
Hyperbole (, listen) (adjective form hyperbolic, listen) is the use of exaggeration as a rhetorical device or figure of speech. In rhetoric, it is also sometimes known as auxesis (literally 'growth').
Litotes
A figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite, as in This is no small problem.
Hyperbole
Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally
He vowed revenge with oaths and hyperboles
You can't accuse us of hyperbole
Litotes
(rhetoric) An ironic figure of speech whereby something is stated by denying its opposite, particularly the negation of a negative quality to say something positive.
Hyperbole
A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect, as in I could sleep for a year or This book weighs a ton.
Litotes
A diminution or softening of statement for the sake of avoiding censure or increasing the effect by contrast with the moderation shown in the form of expression; a form of understatement; as, " a citizen of no mean city," that is, of an illustrious city; or, "not bad", meaning "good".
Hyperbole
Deliberate or unintentional overstatement, particularly extreme overstatement.
Litotes
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
Hyperbole
(countable) An instance or example of such overstatement.
Hyperbole
A hyperbola.
Hyperbole
A figure of speech in which the expression is an evident exaggeration of the meaning intended to be conveyed, or by which things are represented as much greater or less, better or worse, than they really are; a statement exaggerated fancifully, through excitement, or for effect.
Our common forms of compliment are almost all of them extravagant hyperboles.
Somebody has said of the boldest figure in rhetoric, the hyperbole, that it lies without deceiving.
Hyperbole
Extravagant exaggeration
Common Curiosities
How does litotes engage the audience?
Litotes engages the audience by requiring them to infer the true positive assertion from the understatement, adding depth to the communication.
What is hyperbole?
Hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally, for effect.
What is litotes?
Litotes is a rhetorical device that uses understatement, typically through double negatives, to subtly affirm a positive quality or fact.
How does litotes differ from simple negation?
Litotes differs in that it negates the opposite of a statement to affirm a positive subtly, rather than merely stating a negative.
Why use hyperbole?
Hyperbole is used to create emphasis, add humor, or dramatically express feelings, making messages more memorable or engaging.
Can litotes and hyperbole be used together?
While they are opposite in their approach (understatement vs. exaggeration), skilled writers may use both in different parts of their work for varied effects.
What effect does litotes have on tone?
Litotes can create a tone of modesty, humility, or tact, making statements appear less direct or boastful.
How can hyperbole enhance storytelling?
Hyperbole can add excitement, humor, and vivid imagery to storytelling, making stories more engaging and memorable.
Is hyperbole always obvious?
Hyperbole is often obvious due to its exaggerated nature, but the skill of the writer can affect how quickly the audience recognizes the exaggeration.
Are litotes and hyperbole common in everyday language?
Yes, both figures of speech are common in everyday language, often used to convey attitudes, emotions, or to add color to communication.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
