agape
2 antonyms and opposites of agape, grouped by meaning.
Adjective — With the mouth wide open, usually because of surprise, shock or wonder.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adjective
With the mouth wide open, usually because of surprise, shock or wonder.
“She stood there with her mouth agape at the size of the bill.”
Opposites
2. noun religious
Selfless, unconditional love, especially the love of God for humanity and the love Christians are called to show one another.
“The sermon drew a line between agape and mere sentiment.”
Antonyms
How to Use Agape
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
The 'mouth open' sense is literary; the 'love' sense belongs to theology and sermons.
Etymology
The adjective is from a- 'in a state of' plus gape. The noun is from Greek agapē, meaning love.
Full origin of agape →Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pronounce agape?
It depends on the meaning. The adjective meaning 'mouth open' is said uh-GAYP, rhyming with 'escape'. The Greek noun for selfless love has three syllables, usually AG-uh-pay or ah-GAH-pay.
What is the difference between agape, eros and philia?
They are three Greek words for different kinds of love. Agape is selfless, unconditional love that seeks the good of the other; eros is romantic or desiring love; philia is the warm affection of friendship.
Can agape describe things other than a mouth?
Yes. Doors, gates, wounds and bags can all be described as agape when they are hanging wide open, though the mouth is by far the most common subject.