Understatement vs. Hyperbole

Understatementnoun

An incomplete statement, particularly:

Understatementnoun

A figure of speech whereby something is made to seem smaller or less important than it actually is, either through phrasing or lack of emphasis, often for ironic effect; meiosis.

Understatementnoun

An instance of such phrasing or lack of emphasis.

Understatementnoun

An incomplete disclosure that intentionally withholds relevant information.

Understatementnoun

The act of understating, or the condition of being understated; that which is understated; a statement below the truth.

Understatementnoun

a statement that is restrained in ironic contrast to what might have been said

Understatementnoun

the presentation of something as being smaller or less good or important than it really is

Understatement

Understatement is an expression of lesser strength than what the speaker or writer actually means or than what is normally expected. It is the opposite of embellishment or exaggeration, and is used for emphasis, irony, hedging, or humor.

Hyperbolenoun

Deliberate or unintentional overstatement, particularly extreme overstatement.

Hyperbolenoun

(countable) An instance or example of such overstatement.

Hyperbolenoun

A hyperbola.

Hyperbolenoun

A figure of speech in which the expression is an evident exaggeration of the meaning intended to be conveyed, or by which things are represented as much greater or less, better or worse, than they really are; a statement exaggerated fancifully, through excitement, or for effect.

Hyperbolenoun

extravagant exaggeration

Hyperbolenoun

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally

Hyperbole

Hyperbole (, listen) (adjective form hyperbolic, listen) is the use of exaggeration as a rhetorical device or figure of speech. In rhetoric, it is also sometimes known as auxesis (literally 'growth').