Definitions

1. noun

a rhetorical device in which a speaker or writer trails off into silence, as if unable or unwilling to continue.

“The politician’s speech was notable for its dramatic use of aposiopesis, leaving the audience wondering about the fate of the country.”

2. noun

a rhetorical device in which a writer or speaker leaves a sentence unfinished as a way of creating suspense or evoking emotion.

“The author’s use of aposiopesis added a haunting quality to the short story, leaving readers to fill in the blanks.”