antithesis
The antithesis is a person or thing that is the direct or polar opposite of someone or something else. It also refers to a rhetorical device where two contrasting ideas are placed together in a balanced grammatical structure to achieve a contrasting effect.
Examples
3 of 5His cluttered, chaotic desk is the antithesis of his otherwise organized lifestyle.
His cluttered, chaotic desk is the antithesis of his otherwise organized lifestyle.
The new legislation is seen by many as the direct antithesis of the government's promised reforms.
The new legislation is seen by many as the direct antithesis of the government's promised reforms.
Staying home all weekend is the absolute antithesis of what I call a fun time.
Staying home all weekend is the absolute antithesis of what I call a fun time.
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Break it down: 'Anti' (against) + 'Thesis' (the main point). It is the idea that stands 'against' the original 'thesis'.
Quick Quiz
The violent imagery in the film was the ______ of the peaceful message the director claimed to promote.
Correct!
The correct answer is: antithesis
Examples
His cluttered, chaotic desk is the antithesis of his otherwise organized lifestyle.
everydayHis cluttered, chaotic desk is the antithesis of his otherwise organized lifestyle.
The new legislation is seen by many as the direct antithesis of the government's promised reforms.
formalThe new legislation is seen by many as the direct antithesis of the government's promised reforms.
Staying home all weekend is the absolute antithesis of what I call a fun time.
informalStaying home all weekend is the absolute antithesis of what I call a fun time.
In his poetry, Blake often presents the innocence of childhood as the antithesis to the experience of adulthood.
academicIn his poetry, Blake often presents the innocence of childhood as the antithesis to the experience of adulthood.
Such aggressive marketing tactics are the antithesis of our corporate culture, which prizes subtlety and trust.
businessSuch aggressive marketing tactics are the antithesis of our corporate culture, which prizes subtlety and trust.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
the very antithesis of
the very antithesis of
diametrical antithesis
diametrical antithesis
thesis and antithesis
thesis and antithesis
Often Confused With
An antonym is specifically a word with an opposite meaning, while antithesis refers to a person, idea, or thing that is the total opposite of another.
Usage Notes
Antithesis is almost always used with the definite article 'the' and followed by the preposition 'of'. It is a high-level word used to emphasize a stark, fundamental difference.
Common Mistakes
Learners often try to use it as a verb (e.g., 'it antithesizes'), but it is strictly a noun. They also sometimes confuse it with 'antidote', which is a cure for a poison.
Memory Tip
Break it down: 'Anti' (against) + 'Thesis' (the main point). It is the idea that stands 'against' the original 'thesis'.
Word Origin
From the Late Latin and Greek 'antitithenai', meaning 'to set against' or 'place in opposition'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In Western philosophy, particularly Hegelian dialectic, the 'antithesis' is the second stage of the process (thesis, antithesis, synthesis) used to resolve intellectual conflicts.
Quick Quiz
The violent imagery in the film was the ______ of the peaceful message the director claimed to promote.
Correct!
The correct answer is: antithesis
Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
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