Meaning & use
antithesis
The exact opposite of something, especially when the contrast is deliberate or striking.
See it in a sentence
Her calm, orderly office is the antithesis of her chaotic home workspace.
Kindness toward strangers is the antithesis of the cruelty depicted in the novel.
A note on using this word
In rhetoric, antithesis also names a technique that places sharply contrasting ideas side by side within one sentence.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A rhetorical device that places two contrasting ideas together within a sentence for emphasis.
The debate coach praised the line for its antithesis, pairing quiet patience with sudden, forceful action.
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