antithesis
4 synonyms and 2 antonyms for antithesis, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The exact opposite of something, especially a person or thing that contradicts everything another stands for.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Antonyms
How to use antithesis
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Formal; also a precise term in rhetoric and philosophy.
Etymology
From Greek antithesis 'opposition', from anti- 'against' and tithenai 'to place'.
Full origin of antithesis →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between antithesis and opposite?
Opposite is the plain, general word and works for anything, including directions and numbers. Antithesis is formal and emphatic: it suggests something that stands against another in every important respect, and it is also the name of a specific rhetorical device.
What is antithesis in literature?
It is a figure of speech that places two contrasting ideas in parallel grammatical form, so the contrast is sharpened by the symmetry. 'Give me liberty or give me death' works because the structure of the two halves matches while their meanings clash.
What is the difference between antithesis and juxtaposition?
Juxtaposition simply places two things side by side so a reader notices the contrast. Antithesis is tighter: the two elements must be genuine opposites and are usually set in matching grammatical structures.