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bathos

noun ba·thos \ ˈbā-ˌthäs \

Definition of bathos

1 a : the sudden appearance of the commonplace in otherwise elevated matter or style
b : anticlimax
2 : exceptional commonplaceness : triteness
3 : insincere or overdone pathos : sentimentalism

See bathos defined for English-language learners

Examples of bathos in a Sentence

  1. The serious message of the film is ruined by the bathos of its ridiculous ending.

  2. a novel that wallows in bathos

Recent Examples of bathos from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bathos.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of bathos

Greek, literally, depth

Other Literature Terms

apophasis, bildungsroman, bowdlerize, caesura, coda, doggerel, euphemism, poesy, prosody

BATHOS Defined for English Language Learners

bathos

noun

Definition of bathos for English Language Learners

  • : the sudden appearance of a silly idea or event in a book, movie discussion, etc., that is serious in tone

Learn More about bathos

  1. See words that rhyme with bathos Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bathos

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