apophasis

/ˌæpəˈfɑːsɪs/

Definitions

1. noun

The act of mentioning something by not mentioning it, a rhetorical device in which a subject is referred to as if it were not present.

“The philosopher’s use of apophasis in his essay was a clever way to discuss the taboo topic without directly addressing it.”

Synonyms

  • circumlocution
  • evasion

Antonyms

  • bluntness
  • directness