rhetorical-devices

acatalectic

having complete or full number of syllables in a poetic line
%
accismus

in rhetoric, pretending to refuse something
%
adynaton

rhetorical use of a nearly impossible situation for emphasis
%
agnomination

rhetorical use of similar-sounding words for effect
%
alogism

illogical statement
%
anacoenosis

rhetorical questioning of hearers or opponents for opinions on a matter
%
anacoluthon

moving to new topic of discussion before finishing current one
%
anadiplosis

repeating last word of clause at beginning of next clause
%
analepsis

repetition of a word or phrase for emphasis; pleonasm
%
anaphora

repetition of a word at beginning of successive phrases for emphasis
%
anastrophe

reversing or inverting word order as rhetorical device
%
antanaclasis

repetition of key word of phrase as a play on words
%
anthorism

counter-definition; redefinition of opponent's term for rhetorical effect
%
anthypophora

refuting an objection using a contrary inference
%
anticlimax

expression whose last part is decreased in effect from the prior part
%
antimetabole

figure in which words or phrases are repeated but in inverse order
%
antimetathesis

inversion of the parts of an antithesis
%
antiphrasis

use of words in a sense opposite to literal
%
antistrophe

repetition of words in reverse order
%
antistrophon

turning of opponent's own argument against them
%
antithesis

contrast of ideas by means of parallel arrangement of words or clauses
%
antonomasia

use of descriptive phrase or epithet instead of proper name
%
aparithmesis

rhetorical answer to a proposition
%
apodosis

main concluding clause in a conditional sentence
%
apophasis

saying something by stating that you will not mention it
%
aposiopesis

suddenly stopping in the middle of a speech for emphasis
%
apostrophe

addressing of a personified thing rhetorically
%
asteism

refined irony
%
asyndeton

rhetorical device of omitting conjunctions
%
atticism

expression characterized by conciseness and elegance
%
auxesis

increase in size; hyperbole or augmentation of meaning
%
bathos

appearance of the commonplace in elevated matter for rhetorical effect
%
catastasis

introductory part of speech where narrator introduces subject
%
chiasmus

contrast by parallelism in reverse order
%
climax

gradual increase in force of rhetorical expressions or drama of a performance
%
consecution

logical sequence or progression of an argument
%
diacope

rhetorical separation of a compound word by a third word; tmesis
%
diallage

device in which many arguments brought upon one point
%
diallelus

circular argument
%
dialogism

rhetorical discussion in form of an imaginary dialogue
%
diaporesis

rhetorical expression of uncertainty of which of two options to adopt
%
diasyrm

rhetorical device of condemning through faint praise
%
diatyposis

rhetorically vivid and clear description of a subject
%
dicaeology

defending oneself in argument by claiming justification
%
dilemma

in rhetoric, forcing a choice between two equally unfavourable choices
%
dilogy

intentional ambiguousness
%
dinumeration

numbering of rhetorical points one by one
%
ecbole

digression
%
echolalia

echo-like repetition of another's words
%
echopraxia

echo-like repetition of another's actions
%
ecphasis

explicit declaration or interpretation
%
ecphonesis

rhetorical exclamation
%
ecphrasis

plain interpretation of a thing
%
ekphrasis

description of a work of art as rhetorical exercise
%
enantiosis

ironic expression of idea by refuting its contrary
%
enthymeme

rhetorical suppression or omission of a premise
%
epanadiplosis

sentence which begins and ends with same word
%
epanalepsis

repetition
%
epanaphora

repetition of same word at beginning of multiple phrases or sentences
%
epanastrophe

device where end of one sentence is repeated as beginning of next
%
epanodos

recapitulation of chief points in a discourse after digression
%
epanorthosis

retraction of statement in order to intensify it
%
epexegesis

addition of words to make the sense more clear
%
epibole

device of beginning several clauses with same word
%
epilogue

rhetorical conclusion or summary
%
epiphonema

exclamation, finishing phrase or reflection
%
epiphora

rhetorical repetition of a word at the end of several sentences
%
epiplexis

persuasion through stylized but severe criticism of opponent
%
epiploce

use of multiple entwined points in succession in an argument
%
epistrophe

ending of successive clauses with the same word
%
epitrope

rhetorical but ironic granting of permission to an opponent to do something
%
epizeuxis

immediate repetition of a word for emphasis
%
erotesis

rhetorical questioning
%
ethopoeia

delineation of the character of someone or something
%
euphemism

rhetorical use of a pleasant or favourable form in place of a harsh one
%
exergasia

remaining on one point of argument while gradually fleshing it out
%
gemination

doubling of a consonant sound; in rhetoric, repetition of a word or phrase
%
hendiadys

expression of adjective and noun as two adjectives
%
heterosis

use of one form of a noun or pronoun in place of another for rhetorical effect
%
homeoteleuton

the use or occurrence of similar word endings
%
homoeoptoton

use of series of words sharing the same verb or noun inflections
%
hypallage

figure in which relations between words are changed
%
hyperbaton

rhetorical device in which word order is reversed
%
hyperbole

impression by extravagant exaggeration
%
hypercatalectic

having an extra syllable on the end of a line of verse
%
hypobole

anticipating and refuting objections to an argument
%
hypophora

statement of an opponent's probable but as yet unstated objection
%
hypostrophe

return to primary argument after digression
%
hypotyposis

vivid description of a scene
%
hysteron proteron

in rhetoric, putting first what normally comes last
%
ischiorrhogic

of an iambic line, having spondees in the second, fourth or sixth place
%
lemma

preliminary proposition, theme, argument or headword
%
litotes

understatement by affirming using negation of the contrary
%
macrology

much talk with little to say; redundancy; pleonasm
%
meiosis

understatement of size or importance for rhetorical effect
%
merism

rhetorical device of contrasting two parts of a whole
%
mesozeugma

placement of a word referring to two different clauses between them
%
metabasis

transition; transfer; in rhetoric, movement from one topic to another
%
metalepsis

metonymy of a double or indirect kind
%
metaphor

figurative transfer of qualities from one object or event to another
%
metaphrase

turning of prose into verse or vice versa
%
metastasis

removal from one place to another; rapid transition in argument
%
metonymy

figurative use of word to name an attribute of its subject
%
mimesis

rhetorical imitation of another's words or mannerisms
%
mycterism

sneering; rhetorical sarcasm or irony
%
noema

stating something obscurely, forcing listeners to work it out
%
oxymoron

figure of speech combining contradictory terms
%
palillogy

repetition of a word or word or phrase
%
parabola

rhetorical use of simile or metaphor
%
paradiastole

description of an unfavourable quality through a favourable synonym
%
paradigma

rhetorical comparison by resemblance to another thing
%
paraenesis

rhetorical expression of advice or warning
%
paragram

play on words in which letters are changed
%
paralipsis

fixing attention on subject by pretending to neglect it
%
paranomasia

rhetorical art of punning
%
parathesis

apposition; compounding of words without change
%
parecbasis

rhetorical digression or deviation from expected topic
%
paregmenon

repetition of a word or its cognates in a series of words
%
parembole

insertion of something related to the subject into a phrase
%
paremptosis

insertion of something related to the subject into a phrase
%
parison

even balance of elements in a sentence
%
paroemia

proverb or adage used in argumentation
%
paromoion

starting statement with several words starting with the same letter
%
paromologia

partial admission of opponent's argument to strengthen one's final position
%
parrhesia

asking forgiveness in advance for frank or bold speech
%
pathopoeia

excitation of passion by rhetoric or poetry
%
periergia

use of elevated style to discuss a trivial matter
%
periphrasis

circumlocution; round-about expression
%
perissology

verbiage; pleonasm
%
pleonasm

redundancy; use of more words than necessary
%
ploce

repetition of word in more expressive sense for emphasis
%
polyptoton

repetition of word in same sentence with multiple inflectional endings
%
polysyndeton

rhetorical device of repeating conjunction for emphasis
%
preterition

passing over or omission; drawing attention to a thing by claiming to omit it
%
procatalepsis

anticipating and answering an opponent's objections
%
prolepsis

anticipation; device where objections are anticipated
%
pronomination

description of a thing by its qualities rather than its proper name
%
prosopopoeia

personification; representation of absent person as speaking
%
protasis

first clause in a conditional expression; introductory part of a play
%
prothysteron

putting last what normally comes first in an expression or argument
%
protozeugma

zeugma in which word referring to two clauses is placed before both of them
%
schesis

deriding opponent's argument by referring to his way of thought
%
simile

comparison of two things
%
sorites

string of statements where end of one is subject of next
%
superjection

exaggeration; hyperbole
%
syllepsis

figure where word related to two others differently
%
syllogism

argument in which two premises lead to a logical conclusion
%
symploce

repetition of word at start of one and end of next clause
%
synchoresis

concession made for the sake of more effective retort
%
synchysis

confusion of meaning due to unusual arrangement
%
syncrisis

comparison of diverse or contradictory things
%
syndeton

phrase whose parts are joined by a conjunction
%
synecdoche

part used to refer to whole or vice versa
%
synoeciosis

rhetorical figure of coupling opposites
%
tapinosis

use of degrading or diminutive diction regarding a topic
%
tmesis

separation of word into parts by an intervening word
%
trope

any figure of speech; figurative language
%
tuism

apostrophe; reference to or regard to a second person
%
zeugma

use of a word to modify two or more words in different ways
%