Paronomasia
Wordplay that brings together similar sounds with different meanings.
Paronomasia brings similar-sounding words with different meanings into contact. It is a form of wordplay that can create contrast, humor or a memorable association.
The sound relationship draws attention to the wording itself. In a serious scene it may introduce unintended levity, so its usefulness depends on the speaker and context as well as the verbal resemblance.
Example
The council offered plenty of counsel and very little help.
In the workshop
Check that the wordplay belongs to the speaker's voice.
Related terms
Put this term to work
The writing studio novelists were missing
Outline, characters, places and objects, the links between them, mind map, storyboard, export: everything lives in one place. Plus an AI that knows your story, whenever you want one.
Free to write and to export. No credit card asked.