Meiosis

This article is part of the Figures of Speech course. You may choose to follow it in a structured way, or read each item separately.

• Figures of comparison
• Figures of meaning

  bathos or anticlimax 

  a descent, either disappointing or ludicrous

  circumlocution 

  talking around the subject

  climax 

  propositions or ideas rising in force

  hyperbole 

  exaggeration

  irony 

  words with a hidden meaning

  litotes 

  using double negatives to make an understatement

  meiosis 

  making an understatement

  oxymoron and paradox 

  words that contradict each other

  pun 

  a play upon words

  satire 

  social or political comment through mockery or scorn

  sarcasm 

  a bitter gibe or taunt

• Figures of construction
• Figures of sound patterning
• Miscellaneous Figures

Meiosis (pronounced 'my-OH-sis') is the opposite of hyperbole, or exaggeration. Meiosis is a more academic word for what is commonly called understatement. It is a common British form of modesty, as when the student who has just been awarded a First tells her proud parents, "I didn't do too badly".