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paronomasia

/ˌpærəˈnɒməsiːə/ noun · British & US
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What does paronomasia mean?

noun

The act of using words that are similar in sound but have different meanings, often for rhetorical effect. A figure of speech in which words that are similar in sound but have different meanings are used in close proximity to one another.

Example

"The politician's speech was full of clever paronomasia, making it difficult to distinguish fact from fiction."

Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.

Words that share this root

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Rhymes with paronomasia