What is the difference between litotes and verbal irony?

Litotes and verbal irony are two literary devices that are used to convey meaning indirectly, but they do so in different ways.

  • Litotes is a form of understatement that downplays the significance of something by emphasizing its opposite. For example, the phrase “that’s not too shabby” indicates that something is actually good. Litotes can express verbal irony, but not all litotic statements are ironic.
  • Verbal irony, on the other hand, is a broader term and involves statements that are contrary to their literal meaning. Its purpose is to add humor or make a point, and this can be achieved through sarcasm, overstatement, or understatement.

In short, verbal irony and litotes can sometimes overlap or be used in combination with each other. However, litotes relies on ironic understatement through negation, whereas verbal irony can involve various techniques that convey meaning beyond a literal interpretation.