Comparison workshop

UnderstatementversusLitotesWhat's the Difference?

Litotes is a particular negation-based form of Understatement.

Read the pair

How They Differ

First idea

Understatement

Understatement more broadly downscales intensity or significance.

versus

Second idea

Litotes

Litotes affirms by negating an opposite.

See the signal

Examples

Understatement

The collapsed roof was inconvenient.

Litotes

The rescue was no small achievement.