noun

antithesis

an-TITH-uh-siss

Antithesis (noun) means the exact opposite of something, especially a person or thing that contradicts everything another stands for. Example: “Her quiet, careful style is the antithesis of his.”

noun

The exact opposite of something, especially a person or thing that contradicts everything another stands for.

"Her quiet, careful style is the antithesis of his."

"The new stadium is the antithesis of everything the old ground was."

technical A rhetorical device in which two contrasting ideas are set against each other in a balanced phrase or sentence.

"'Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more' is a famous antithesis."

"The speech leans heavily on antithesis to make its choices sound stark."

technical In philosophy, the idea that opposes an initial proposition in a dialectical argument, standing between thesis and synthesis.

"He set out the thesis, then the antithesis, before reaching for a synthesis."

How to use antithesis

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe complete opposite of something.

When to use it

Formal; also a precise term in rhetoric and philosophy.

Memory tip

The plural is 'antitheses', pronounced an-TITH-uh-seez.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

juxtaposition → oxymoron → paradox →

Common pairings

the very antithesis of antithesis of luxury thesis and antithesis rhetorical antithesis

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Her quiet, careful style is the _____ of his.

Etymology

From Greek antithesis 'opposition', from anti- 'against' and tithenai 'to place'.

Origin: Greek

Synonyms

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opposite reverse converse contrary

Antonyms

epitome embodiment

Related words

like same talk model speak conversation opposition discuss

Rhymes for antithesis

thesis nemesis genesis exegesis synthesis hypothesis prosthesis telekinesis photosynthesis

See all rhymes for 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.

What is the meaning of antithesis?

"antithesis" (noun) means the exact opposite of something, especially a person or thing that contradicts everything another stands for.

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