Meaning & use
Accismus
Last updated
A rhetorical device in which a person feigns disinterest in something they actually desire.
See it in a sentence
When she said 'Oh, I couldn't possibly accept such a gift' while reaching for it, it was pure accismus.
Politicians often practice accismus, denying interest in a position they are actively campaigning for.
A note on using this word
The term comes from Greek, and one classic example is a person repeatedly refusing an invitation while clearly hoping to be asked again.
Words with a similar meaning
false modesty
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
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