antithesis

C2 Topic:General Vocabulary

US /ænˈtɪθ.ɪ.sɪs/ See IPA manual

Freq #52562

Meanings

1

noun
The exact opposite of something.

Their new theory is the antithesis of everything we once believed.
2

noun
A contrast of two opposing ideas placed side by side for effect.

"Many are called, but few are chosen" is a famous example of antithesis.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

contrary converse inverse obverse opposite reversewitherward

Opposites

epitome

Word family

Forms antitheses

Derived forms antithesiseantithesizeantithetantithetic antitheticalantitheticalityantitheticallyantitheticalness

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin antithesis, itself a borrowing from Ancient Greek ἀντίθεσις (antíthesis). By surface analysis, anti- + thesis.

*dʰeh₁- Proto-Indo-European ἀντίθεσις Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

General Vocabulary

External links

# antithesis

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ænˈtɪθ.ɪ.sɪs/
**Frequency rank:** 52562

## Meanings
1. The exact opposite of something.
2. A contrast of two opposing ideas placed side by side for effect.

## Examples
- Their new theory is the antithesis of everything we once believed.
- "Many are called, but few are chosen" is a famous example of antithesis.

## Synonyms
- contrary
- converse
- inverse
- obverse
- opposite
- reverse
- witherward

## Antonyms
- epitome

## Derived Forms
- antithesise
- antithesize
- antithet
- antithetic
- antithetical
- antitheticality
- antithetically
- antitheticalness

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *dʰeh₁-
- Root: ἀντίθεσις

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin antithesis, itself a borrowing from Ancient Greek ἀντίθεσις (antíthesis). By surface analysis, anti- + thesis.

## AI Etymology
Antithesis is borrowed from Latin antithesis, itself a borrowing from Ancient Greek ἀντίθεσις (antíthesis). By surface analysis, anti- + thesis. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern nominal form is built from the named base and affix. Important recorded forms include *dʰeh₁- (Proto-Indo-European) and ἀντίθεσις (Ancient Greek). Current senses include the exact opposite of something and a contrast of two opposing ideas placed side by side for effect. The wider family includes derived forms such as antithesise, antithesize, antithet, antithetic, and antithetical.

## Topics
- General Vocabulary

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