aposiopesis
/ˌæpəˌsaɪəˈpiːsɪs/
noun
- A sudden breaking off of speech in the middle of a sentence, often because the speaker is too emotional or wants to leave something unsaid.
- Her aposiopesis during the argument left everyone wondering what she was about to say.
- The politician used aposiopesis for dramatic effect, saying, 'The truth is... well, never mind.'
- In the play, the character's aposiopesis showed his anger when he shouted, 'If you do that again, I'll...' and then stopped.
Synonyms