catachresis

• Nom désignant un usage forcé ou paradoxal des mots, soit par erreur (par exemple, employer « blantant » pour « flagrant »), soit délibérément (par exemple, dans une métaphore filée comme « des bouches aveugles »).

A noun referring to the strained or paradoxical use of words, either by mistake (e.g., using 'blatant' to mean 'flagrant') or deliberately (e.g., in a mixed metaphor like 'blind mouths').

1. Strained or paradoxical use of wordsC2formal

   The incorrect or strained use of a word, either by mistake (e.g., using 'blatant' to mean 'flagrant') or deliberately (e.g., in a mixed metaphor like 'blind mouths').

   Catachrèse (emploi abusif ou forcé d'un mot)

   • The poet's use of catachresis created a striking but confusing image.
   • In his speech, he committed a catachresis by mixing metaphors about sailing and farming.
   • Some critics argue that the phrase 'the voice of the silence' is a catachresis.

   Synonymesabusemalapropismmisusemixed metaphorperversionsolecism