Apophasis is a noun referring to a rhetorical device in which something is asserted by denying it or by seeming to pass over it, often to highlight a point indirectly. It can also describe a figure of speech that alludes to something by deliberate omission. In practice, speakers use apophasis to draw attention while claiming not to discuss the topic.
"The politician invoked apophasis, pointing out how her opponent never mentions the budget’s flaws."
"In the speech, he made an apophasis about ethics, stating he would not discuss what he would rather overlook."
"Her critique was delivered with a calm apophasis, refusing to name her critics yet addressing their arguments."
"Scholars describe apophasis as a rhetorical trick that both hints and withholds, creating a double-edged emphasis."
Apophasis comes from Greek apophasis, from apo- ‘away’ + phasis ‘speaking, appearance, saying’. The term entered English through classical rhetoric traditions, where Greek orators analyzed devices for influencing listeners. The root phasis derives from phanai ‘to show, reveal’ and related forms, while apo- carries the sense of separation or negation. In ancient usage, apophasis was framed as a deliberate rhetorical move: a speaker ostensibly denies discussing a matter while actually calling attention to it. Over time, the word broadened beyond formal oratory to include similar devices in literature and everyday speech, where a speaker might “not mention” something in order to underscore it. The earliest English attestations trace to discussions of classical rhetoric in the 16th–17th centuries, though the concept is much older in Greek rhetorical theory. Modern usage often appears in political commentary, literary criticism, and public speaking guides, maintaining its core function of emphasis through omission or denial. Contemporary examples frequently involve meta-commentary about topics that the speaker refuses to engage with directly, yet effectively highlights through the act of avoidance.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Apophasis" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Apophasis"
-sis sounds
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Pronounce as /ˌæ.pəˈfeɪ.səs/. Primary stress on the third syllable, clear /feɪ/ as in ‘fay’, and end with a lightly spoken /səs/. Mouth positions: start with a relaxed front vowel /æ/ in ‘a’, then a quick schwa /ə/ for the second syllable, stress the /feɪ/ vowel cluster, finish with /səs/. Listen for the rhythm: an initial light beat, then emphasis on /feɪ/ and a quick final /səs/.
Two frequent errors: 1) Misplacing stress on the wrong syllable, saying a-POP-ha-sis or a-po-PHAS-is; fix by ensuring the primary stress is on the third syllable /ˌæ.pəˈfeɪ.sɪs/. 2) Muddling the /feɪ/ into a short /fɛ/ or /fi/ sound, producing ‘feh-sis’ instead of /feɪ.səs/. Practice with slow reps emphasizing /feɪ/.
All three accents keep the overall stress pattern, but the vowels shift: US tends to a clear /æ/ in the first vowel and rhoticity affects the final /səs/ with a lighter /ər/ influence in connected speech; UK often preserves a slightly shorter /æ/ and a crisper /ɪ/. AU can show a more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable and slightly broader /eɪ/ for /feɪ/. IPA references reflect these subtleties: US /ˌæ.pəˈfeɪ.səs/, UK /ˌæ.pəˈfeɪ.sɪs/, AU /ˌæ.pəˈfeɪ.səs/.
Because it blends an unstressed syllable cluster with a long diphthong. The /æ/ initial can blur with /ə/ in fast speech, while the /feɪ/ diphthong must be distinct from /fæs/ or /fes/. The final /səs/ can reduce to /sɪs/ or /səs/ depending on speech rate. Focus on keeping the /æ/ clear, the /feɪ/ intact, and the final unstressed /səs/ compact. IPA cues help you lock the rhythm: ˌæ.pəˈfeɪ.səs.
The apparent contradiction between denial and emphasis is the word’s hallmark. The stress shift to the third syllable is a key cue and often guides listeners to the device’s function. Even when you say you won't discuss something, your intonation and beat around the word reveal the point. Paying attention to the subtle stress and the long /eɪ/ diphthong will help you recognize and produce this word accurately.
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