Meaning & use
antithesis
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Meanings
nounsingular
Something that is the exact opposite of another thing, so that the two clearly contrast.
Grammar: Often followed by of: the antithesis of freedom.
Patterns
- the antithesis of something
- be the very antithesis of something
His calm manner was the antithesis of his brother's temper.
Cruelty is the antithesis of kindness.
The quiet cabin was the antithesis of the busy city.
nouncountable or uncountabletechnical
A figure of speech that sets two opposite ideas side by side in balanced phrases.
Grammar: Used in the study of writing and speech.
Patterns
- use antithesis
Give me liberty or give me death uses antithesis.
The speaker used antithesis to stress the choice.
Antithesis can make a slogan memorable.
nouncountabletechnical
In philosophy, the second stage of an argument that opposes the first idea before they are combined.
Grammar: Used with thesis and synthesis.
Patterns
- thesis and antithesis
The thesis meets its antithesis in the middle chapter.
Hegel is linked with thesis, antithesis, and synthesis.
The essay presents the antithesis before a conclusion.
Word forms
| plural | antitheses |
|---|
Common combinations
- the antithesis of
- She is the antithesis of a typical manager.
- the very antithesis
- The policy is the very antithesis of fairness.
- direct antithesis
- Her view stood in direct antithesis to his.
- thesis and antithesis
- The debate pits thesis against antithesis.
- stand in antithesis
- His actions stand in antithesis to his words.
Synonyms and how they differ
- opposite
- Opposite is the common word and works for ordinary things, while antithesis sounds more formal and stresses a striking contrast.
- contrast
- Contrast is a difference that may be small, whereas antithesis is a complete opposite.
- converse
- Converse is a logical or mathematical opposite of a statement.
- reverse
- Reverse suggests turning something the other way around.
Opposites
Word family
- antithetical adjective
- directly opposed
- antithetically adverb
- in an opposite way
- thesis noun
- a proposition or the idea first put forward
- synthesis noun
- the combination of ideas into a whole
Commonly confused: antithesis or anathema?
antithesis vs anathema
Anathema is something strongly disliked or condemned; an antithesis is a direct opposite.
Practice
His quiet, careful approach was the ___ of his sister's reckless style.
Choose one answer.
Antithesis means exact opposite. An analogy or equivalent suggests similarity, and synthesis means combining.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “antithesis”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.