What is the definition of antonym

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An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word. For example, hot and cold are antonyms, as are good and bad. Antonyms can be all types of words: verbs , nouns , adjectives , adverbs , and even prepositions. Knowing how to use antonyms can improve your writing and English skills, but some details need to be explained. Below we answer the question, What are antonyms?

What is the definition of antonym

Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. Here are some examples of antonyms:. An antonym can be an adjective , adverb , noun , preposition , or verb. There are a few different types of antonyms to be aware of: auto-antonyms, converse antonyms, complementary antonyms, and graded antonyms. Auto-antonyms are also known as contranyms. An auto-antonym is a single word that can take on opposite meanings. For example:. Converse antonyms are also known as relational antonyms. Complementary antonyms are also known as direct antonyms, binary antonyms, or contradictory antonyms. Complementary antonyms are words that are completely opposite from each other. These antonyms have no middle ground. Here are some examples of complementary antonyms:.

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Some Differences Between Synonyms and Antonyms. The English language and, we may presume, many other languages has both antonyms and synonyms. There are many more words with synonyms than there are words with antonyms , since many things exist which do not have an opposite the word sandwich , for instance, may be said to have synonyms in the words hoagie , grinder , submarine , and many other words, but there is no opposite of sandwich. Antonym is also a much more recent addition to English than synonym is; it first appeared in the s, whereas synonym has been used for more than years. Additionally, both nouns have adjectival forms: synonymous and antonymous. Synonymous , which is often used loosely "She has become synonymous with good taste" , is the more common of the two. These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'antonym. Send us feedback about these examples.

What is the definition of antonym

A word having a meaning opposite to that of another word: The word "wet" is an antonym of the word "dry. All rights reserved. Compare synonym def. Copyright , , by Random House, Inc. Switch to new thesaurus.

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More Commonly Mispronounced Words. Examples of 'antonym' in a sentence antonym. More from Merriam-Webster on antonym. Dictionary Entries Near antonym. Your feedback will be reviewed. Read about the team of authors behind Collins Dictionaries. Articles Related to antonym. Learn what a quibble is and how to use them in your writing. There are a few different types of antonyms to be aware of: auto-antonyms, converse antonyms, complementary antonyms, and graded antonyms. In English, antonyms are often used with prefixes , small syllables of around one to three letters that attach to the beginnings of words to change their meaning. Specifically, you can use the power of opposites in three ways. Words can either be direct antonyms, as in this boy is strong, but this boy is weak, or can be less explicit. As mentioned above, antonyms draw attention to what makes things different, making each word seem stronger.

For each set of words, can you tell which one is not a synonym of all the others? Yes, it is possible to be kempt, couth, ruly, and gruntled.

An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word. See more words from the same year. A good command of synonyms, antonyms and other related words adds to the stylistic elegance of a text. Traditional Chinese. A negation lexical operator is implemented with the antonym relation, linking words with opposite meanings. English—German German—English. Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge! Some Differences Between Synonyms and Antonyms The English language and, we may presume, many other languages has both antonyms and synonyms. Contact Sales Log in. Antonyms play an important role in writing by making your words more effective. Learn what a quibble is and how to use them in your writing. All rights reserved. David's Day with a beginner's guide to Welsh spellings. Your feedback will be reviewed. Some examples of gradable antonyms include:.