Definition

A sudden stop in the middle of a sentence, where the speaker does not finish their thought, often because they are hesitant or unwilling to continue.

Example

In her speech, she used aposiopesis to emphasize her emotions, saying, "I just can't believe that you would—" and then she paused.

Conversation

Have you ever noticed how some people just stop talking mid-sentence?

Yeah, it's like they're using a form of aposiopesis or something.

Exactly! It can be really dramatic, but also a bit confusing.

For sure! Sometimes I wonder what they were actually going to say.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Aposiopesis → It is formed from "apo-" (meaning away from) and "siopesis" (from the Greek "siopao", meaning to be silent). The word refers to a sudden breaking off in speech, as if one is moving away from completing a thought or statement, resulting in silence.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who suddenly stops speaking, moving 'away from' their words ('apo-') and becoming 'silent' ('siopesis'). This helps you remember that aposiopesis is when someone breaks off their speech unexpectedly.

Visually Confused Words