Menu

Apophasis for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: ə'pɑfəsɪs

What does Apophasis really mean?

44 1
44
Hey there! So, I heard you're curious about the meaning of the word "apophasis." Well, let me break it down for you in the simplest way possible. Apophasis is actually a very interesting word, and it's used to describe a specific rhetorical technique.

Now, in case you're wondering, rhetoric is the art of using language effectively to communicate or persuade someone. It's kind of like when you tell a really awesome story or give a convincing argument. So, this word "apophasis" is all about how we use words to indirectly say something, while at the same time pretending to deny or ignore it. It's like saying something by not saying it, you know?

Let me give you an example to make it clearer. Imagine someone saying, "I'm not going to mention how messy your room is, but it could definitely use some cleaning." Did you catch that? They're indirectly pointing out the messiness of the room without directly talking about it. That's apophasis in action!

But wait, there's more! Sometimes, apophasis can also be used to draw attention to something by claiming that you won't talk about it. It's like a sneaky way of making sure people pay attention to what you're indirectly bringing up. It can be a pretty clever rhetorical move, don't you think?

So, in a nutshell, "apophasis" is a fancy word for a rhetorical technique where you indirectly mention something by denying or ignoring it. It's like saying something without actually saying it, or using a bit of reverse psychology to get your point across. Pretty cool, right?

Revised and Fact checked by David Williams on 2023-10-28 03:01:19

Apophasis In a sentece

Learn how to use Apophasis inside a sentece

  • When someone says, 'I won't mention that you were late, but your tardiness disrupted the class,' they are using apophasis. They pretend to not say something while actually bringing attention to it.
  • Imagine a person saying, 'I won't tell everyone that you failed the test miserably.' In this case, they are using apophasis because they are indirectly pointing out your poor performance.
  • If a parent says to a child, 'I won't bring up the fact that you didn't clean your room, but it looks like a tornado hit it,' they are using apophasis. They act as if they won't mention it, but their words clearly indicate the messy room.
  • During a debate, a politician might say, 'I won't dwell on the fact that my opponent has a history of corruption,' and then proceed to discuss the opponent's questionable actions. This is an example of apophasis because they indirectly bring attention to the corruption.
  • When someone says, 'I won't talk about how you always interrupt me, but it's incredibly rude,' they are using apophasis. They claim not to mention the interruption but end up criticizing it anyway.

Apophasis Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.