bathos

• Nom désignant en rhétorique ou en littérature une chute brutale et souvent ridicule du sublime au trivial, ou une tentative d'émouvoir qui échoue par sa banalité ou son manque de sincérité.

A noun describing an effect in rhetoric or literature where there is an abrupt and often ridiculous descent from the sublime to the trivial, or an attempt at pathos that fails due to triteness or insincerity.

indénombrable

1. Trite or trivial styleC2formal

   A descent in style from the elevated to the commonplace or trivial; an anticlimax.

   Bathos (style trivial ou baisse de ton)

   • The poem's grand opening was ruined by a line of bathos about a lost sock.
   • His speech moved from profound philosophy to bathos when he started discussing his breakfast.
   • The movie's attempt at a dramatic ending fell into bathos with a silly joke.

   Synonymesanticlimaxbanalitycomedownletdowntriteness

   Antonymeselevationgrandeurloftinessnobilitysublimity

2. Insincere pathosC2formal

   An attempt to evoke pity or sadness that is perceived as exaggerated or false.

   Pathos forcé

   • The actor's performance was criticized for its bathos, as the tears seemed forced.
   • The novel's sentimental passages were pure bathos, failing to move the reader.
   • His apology was full of bathos, making it seem insincere.

   Synonymeshistrionicsmawkishnessmelodramasentimentalismsentimentality

3. Anticlimactic changeC2formal

   A sudden shift from a serious, elevated, or important subject to a trivial or disappointing one.

   Chute anticlimatique

   • The debate descended into bathos when the candidate started arguing about a minor typo.
   • After discussing global warming, the conversation fell into bathos with a debate about recycling bins.
   • The symphony's powerful finale was undercut by a moment of bathos with a silly sound effect.

   Synonymesanticlimaxcomedowndisappointmentletdown

   Antonymesapexclimaxculminationpeak