Meiosis (rhetoric)

Meiosis is a type of rhetoric, or persuasive writing or speaking, where you use language to make an idea, or topic, seem smaller or less important than it actually is, so the audience will focus more on your main point. For example, if you were trying to make a point about how kind and generous someone is, you might use meiosis by saying “She does random acts of kindness throughout the day” instead of saying “She regularly donates her time, energy, and money to help others.” This way, you are emphasizing the small ways someone might choose to be kind, instead of the larger actions they might take.