litotes
/ˈlaɪtətiːz/
understatement by denying the opposite
litotes in a sentence
“Saying 'not bad' when you mean 'good' is litotes.”
Origin of litotes
Greek litotes plainness, simplicity from litos plain, simple
Related Words
malapropism
mistaken use of a word for a similar-sounding one
metaphor
a direct comparison between two unlike things
metonymy
substituting the name of an attribute for the thing itself
motif
a recurring element that has symbolic significance
oxymoron
a combination of contradictory terms
parody
an imitation for comic effect or ridicule