pathopoeia

/pæθəˈpoʊɪə/

Definitions

1. noun

a rhetorical device in which a description of a person or object is so vivid and elaborate that it creates a particular impression or evokes a particular emotion in the reader or listener.

“The poet used pathopoeia to describe the suffering of the war victims, evoking a strong emotional response in the audience.”

Synonyms

  • evocative description
  • imaging
  • rhetorical device

Antonyms

  • equivocation
  • understatement