Definition of bathos
1a : the sudden appearance of the commonplace in otherwise elevated matter or styleb : anticlimax
2 : exceptional commonplaceness : triteness
3 : insincere or overdone pathos : sentimentalism
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Examples of bathos in a Sentence
The serious message of the film is ruined by the bathos of its ridiculous ending.
a novel that wallows in bathos
Origin and Etymology of bathos
Greek, literally, depth
First Known Use: 1727
Other Literature Terms
BATHOS Defined for English Language Learners
bathos
playDefinition of bathos for English Language Learners
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: the sudden appearance of a silly idea or event in a book, movie discussion, etc., that is serious in tone
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See words that rhyme with bathos Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bathos Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bathos
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