Adynaton

Adynaton

ædəˈnɑtn

Noun

  • A form of hyperbole that uses exaggeration so magnified as to express impossibility; an instance of such hyperbole.

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Example Sentences

“By adding adynaton, the story at the beginning of his speech went from mundane to fantastic.”

“He was using adynaton, but the counselor’s campfire story was so scary, none of us could sleep.”

“The keynote speaker opened the address with a story full of adynaton.”

Word Origin

Latin, mid-17th century

Why this word?

If you take a rhetoric class, you’ll learn many tools for persuasive writing and public speaking. One of these tricks is adynaton, which is a form of hyperbole in which an impossible situation is described to make a point. Think: “raining cats and dogs” or “when pigs fly.” An extended example of adynaton is the tale of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.” In this case, a bit of exaggeration is used by parents as a lesson about the dangers of exaggeration.

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ˌfēliks ˈkəlpə