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Meaning & use

polar opposite

noun·Academic

Last updated

UK/ˌpəʊlər ˈɒpəzɪt/
US/ˌpoʊlər ˈɑːpəzɪt/

Meanings

  1. nouncountablefigurative

    A person or thing that is as different from another as it is possible to be, so that the two seem to stand at opposite extremes.

    Grammar: Usually followed by of or to: she is the polar opposite of her sister.

    Patterns

    • the polar opposite of someone
    • the polar opposite to something

    Her calm manner is the polar opposite of her brother's nervous energy.

    The two candidates are polar opposites on taxes.

    Winter in Siberia is the polar opposite of summer in Brazil.

  2. nounpluralfigurative

    Two things or people that are completely opposite to each other in character, belief or quality, used in the plural.

    Grammar: Often used with a plural verb: they are polar opposites.

    Patterns

    • be polar opposites
    • polar opposites in something

    The twins turned out to be polar opposites, one shy and one outgoing.

    Their politics are polar opposites, yet they remain close friends.

Word forms

pluralpolar opposites

Common combinations

the polar opposite of
This plan is the polar opposite of what we agreed.
polar opposites attract
Maybe polar opposites attract, because they married.
complete polar opposite
He was the complete polar opposite of his father.
polar opposite views
They hold polar opposite views on money.
seem polar opposites
On the surface the two cities seem polar opposites.

Synonyms and how they differ

direct opposite
Direct opposite is plainer and has no image of the poles, while polar opposite stresses the extreme distance between the two.
antithesis
Antithesis is a more formal and literary word for an exact contrast.
mirror image
A mirror image is the same shape reversed, but a polar opposite is entirely different in nature.
extreme
An extreme is one end of a range, whereas polar opposite needs a second end to compare it to.

Opposites

equivalentcounterpart

Word family

polarity noun
the state of having two opposite poles or extremes
polarize verb
to divide people into two opposing groups
polarization noun
a sharp division into opposing groups
polar adjective
relating to the poles or to extreme difference

Commonly confused: polar opposite or opposite pole?

polar opposite vs opposite pole

The opposite pole is a literal point on a magnet or the globe, while polar opposite is mainly used figuratively.

Practice

Maya loves loud parties, while her sister prefers quiet evenings. Which phrase describes them best?

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