pathos

/ˈpæθoʊs/

Definitions

1. noun

a quality that makes something, such as a literary work or a speech, emotionally moving or appealing to the audience’s emotions; a persuasive device used to evoke emotions

“The novelist’s use of pathos in the tragic ending of her novel made it a bestseller.”

Synonyms

  • emotional appeal
  • sensibility
  • sentiment

Antonyms

  • apathy
  • indifference