apophasis
/əˈpɑfəsɪs/
noun
- A rhetorical device in which a speaker mentions something by saying they will not mention it, often to draw attention to the thing being denied.
- I won't even mention his past mistakes, but apophasis is a common trick in political debates.
- The teacher explained that apophasis can be a clever way to bring up a sensitive topic without seeming rude.
- Using apophasis, the critic said, 'I refuse to discuss the actor's terrible performance,' which made everyone think about it.
Synonyms