Here you’ll find 13 Literary devices that start with W that begin with W, organized from “Weasel words” to “Wry humor”. These entries cover rhetorical, tonal, and narrative techniques commonly used in fiction, nonfiction, and analysis.

Literary devices that start with W are stylistic techniques whose names begin with W and shape tone, meaning, or argument. Many come from rhetoric or satire; “wry humor” is a memorable example across genres.

Below you’ll find the table with Device, Definition, and Example.

Device: This column lists each term so you can quickly scan names and choose which to study.

Definition: Concise definitions explain each device in plain language so you can understand its purpose and effect.

Example: Short examples show typical usage so you can see each device in context and apply it yourself.

Literary devices that start with W

DeviceAlso known asTypeExample
Witcleverness, epigramrhetorical device, toneShe quipped, “I can resist everything but temptation.”
Witticismwitty remark, epigramrhetorical deviceA crisp one-liner exposing ironic truth.
Wry humorwryness, dry wittone/style deviceHe smiled wryly at his ruined plan.
Wordplaypunning, verbal playfigure of speechTime flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.
Word paintingtext paintingimagery/sound deviceThe music rose as the hero climbed higher.
White spacewhitespace, visual spacingvisual/poetic deviceLine breaks and margins create silence on the page.
World-buildingworldbuildingnarrative techniqueTolkien’s detailed maps, languages, histories.
Withholdingdelayed revelationnarrative techniqueKey motive revealed at novel’s end.
Word-order inversionhyperbatonsyntactic deviceStrong in the force, he is.
Weasel wordsvague qualifiersrhetorical deviceSome experts say without citing sources.
Wish-fulfillmentfantasy fulfillmentthematic/psychological deviceDream sequence shows protagonist’s ideal life.
Whimsyplayful imaginationtone/style deviceNarrator’s flights of fanciful digression.
Word repetitionepizeuxis, repetitionsound/structural device‘Alone, alone, all, all alone.’

Descriptions

Wit
Clever verbal intelligence or humor that delivers surprise, insight, or a sharp observation in a brief form.
Witticism
A brief, witty remark prized for cleverness and verbal sparkle; often memorable and quotable.
Wry humor
Dry, ironic, or subtly mocking humor delivered with understatement; often highlights absurdity or disappointment.
Wordplay
Playful manipulation of language—puns, double meanings, spoonerisms—used for humor, emphasis, or irony.
Word painting
Using words, sounds, or rhythms to mimic or reflect a scene’s action or emotional shape.
White space
Deliberate blank areas on the page used to control pace, emphasis, and visual rhythm in poetry or prose.
World-building
Creating the rules, history, cultures, and details of a fictional world to make a setting believable and immersive.
Withholding
Deliberately omitting or postponing information to build suspense, craft surprises, or control what readers know.
Word-order inversion
Rearranging normal sentence order to emphasize words, vary rhythm, or create a poetic or archaic tone.
Weasel words
Vague, evasive words or phrases used to hedge claims or mislead readers without making firm statements.
Wish-fulfillment
Depicting characters’ desires fulfilled—often in dreams or fantasies—to reveal hopes, fears, or inner longings.
Whimsy
A light, fanciful, or capricious tone or element that adds charm, surprise, or playful unreality to a text.
Word repetition
Repeating words or phrases for emphasis, rhythm, or mood; includes anaphora, epizeuxis, and refrain.
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