"Paralipsis" Pronounce,Meaning And Examples

"Paralipsis" Meaning

Paralipsis is a rhetorical device in which a speaker or writer mentions something they are deliberately avoiding talking about or discussing. It is a way of acknowledging the existence of an issue or topic without directly addressing it, often in order to evade or gloss over its significance. An example of paralipsis might be saying "I'm not going to mention anyone's name, but some people might think this is a great idea" - the speaker is avoiding mentioning a specific name or accepting blame, but still acknowledging the issue's existence.

"Paralipsis" Examples

Definition:

Paralipsis is a rhetorical device in which a speaker or writer mentions something but then pretends not to mention it, often to draw attention to it.

Examples:

"I'm not saying that the politician is corrupt, but that he's been under investigation for months doesn't exactly fill me with confidence." (Here, the speaker is accusing the politician of corruption but pretends not to, using paralipsis to avoid directly stating the accusation.)
"I'm not going to mention the rival company's name, but let's just say their products have a certain... reputation for quality." (The speaker is trying to avoid mentioning a rival company's name, but still refers to it indirectly using paralipsis.)
"I'm not sure what the other party wanted, but it's clear they didn't get it." (In this example, the speaker is implying that the other party wanted something specific, but pretends not to know what it is, using paralipsis to avoid directly stating it.)
"I'm not saying that our competitor's strategy is copied from someone else, but the resemblance is definitely... intriguing." (The speaker is accusing a competitor of copying someone else's strategy, but uses paralipsis to avoid directly stating it.)
"I'm not sure what the other candidate's stance on the issue is, but I'm pretty certain it's not in line with the rest of us." (In this example, the speaker is implying that a candidate has a certain stance on an issue, but pretends not to know what it is, using paralipsis to avoid directly stating it.)