aposiopesis

Expert

/ˌæpəsaɪəˈpiːsɪs/

noun
A breaking off in speech, usually as if overcome by emotion or unwilling to continue

aposiopesis in a sentence

  • “"Why, you…!" he said, in a moment of aposiopesis.”
  • “His speech was filled with aposiopesis, leaving the audience in suspense.”
  • “She began to explain, but an aposiopesis left us wondering.”

What does “aposiopesis” mean?

aposiopesis (noun) means a breaking off in speech, usually as if overcome by emotion or unwilling to continue. It is pronounced /ˌæpəsaɪəˈpiːsɪs/. Vocaby pairs the definition with audio and real example sentences so the word is easy to remember — and brings it back for review right before you'd forget it.

Frequently asked questions

What does "aposiopesis" mean?
aposiopesis (noun) means: A breaking off in speech, usually as if overcome by emotion or unwilling to continue
How do you pronounce "aposiopesis"?
"aposiopesis" is pronounced /ˌæpəsaɪəˈpiːsɪs/ in IPA. You can tap to hear it spoken aloud in the Vocaby app.
How do you use "aposiopesis" in a sentence?
Here is "aposiopesis" used in a sentence: "Why, you…!" he said, in a moment of aposiopesis.

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