Meaning & use
antithetical
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Meaning
adjectivenot comparable
Directly opposed to an idea, principle, or quality in a strong and basic way.
Grammar: Often follows be and is followed by to; can also stand before a noun in formal writing.
Patterns
- antithetical to something
- antithetical values
- antithetical principles
Censorship is antithetical to free debate.
The two plans are antithetical in both cost and purpose.
He argued that greed is antithetical to the mission of public service.
Common combinations
- antithetical to freedom
- Random detention is antithetical to freedom under law.
- antithetical values
- The merger failed because the firms had antithetical values.
- fundamentally antithetical
- Their approaches were fundamentally antithetical.
- seem antithetical
- Risk and caution seem antithetical but can work together.
Synonyms and how they differ
- opposed
- General; antithetical is stronger and more formal, suggesting deep conflict.
- contrary
- Can mean opposite or difficult; antithetical is more absolute.
- incompatible
- Means unable to exist or work together; antithetical emphasizes direct opposition of ideas.
- contradictory
- Often used for statements or evidence that cannot both be true.
Opposites
Word family
- antithesis noun
- a direct opposite or a formal contrast of ideas
- antithetically adverb
- in a directly opposing way
Commonly confused: antithetical or hypothetical?
antithetical vs hypothetical
Hypothetical means imagined for discussion; antithetical means directly opposed.
Practice
Random punishment is antithetical ___ justice.
Choose one answer.
The fixed formal pattern is antithetical to. With, of, and in are common prepositions but do not fit this adjective.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “antithetical”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.