Which figure of speech involves understatement by negating the opposite?

• A. Irony
• B. Litote
• C. Pun
• D. Metaphor

Answer: (B)

Litotes is the figure of speech that uses a negative to express a positive by denying the opposite of what is meant. By saying “not bad,” the speaker understates the quality and signals that it’s good without stating it outright. This negation of the opposite creates a soft, understated emphasis, which is exactly what litotes aims to achieve. For example, “not unfamiliar” implies familiarity, and “not the worst idea” suggests something is reasonably good—yet the language itself remains modest.

Irony is broader and involves meaning the opposite of what is stated, often for effect but not necessarily through negating the opposite. A pun is wordplay that exploits multiple meanings or sounds of a word. A metaphor is a direct comparison between two unlike things without using negation.