Which sentence is an example of litotes?

Which sentence is an example of litotes?

• A. That movie was not bad.
• B. I waited forever.
• C. The test destroyed me.
• D. The thunder roared loudly.

Answer: (A)

Litotes works by expressing a positive idea through negating its opposite, often giving a softer or more understated tone. In that sentence, saying the movie “was not bad” negates the opposite of bad and implies that the movie was good, using negation to intensify a positive judgment without stating it outright. The other sentences don’t fit this pattern. “I waited forever” uses exaggeration to express duration, not a negation of an opposite. “The test destroyed me” is hyperbole about how hard it felt, not a negation. “The thunder roared loudly” relies on vivid description, but it’s not negating an opposite to convey a positive or understated point.

Litotes works by expressing a positive idea through negating its opposite, often giving a softer or more understated tone. In that sentence, saying the movie “was not bad” negates the opposite of bad and implies that the movie was good, using negation to intensify a positive judgment without stating it outright.

The other sentences don’t fit this pattern. “I waited forever” uses exaggeration to express duration, not a negation of an opposite. “The test destroyed me” is hyperbole about how hard it felt, not a negation. “The thunder roared loudly” relies on vivid description, but it’s not negating an opposite to convey a positive or understated point.