Antithesis
noun
A person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else.
Love is the antithesis of selfishness.
Often appears as...
- direct antithesis
- polar antithesis
noun
A contrast or opposition between two things.
The antithesis between obligation and self-interest.
Often appears as...
- stark antithesis
- clear antithesis
noun
A rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, is an example of antithesis.
Often appears as...
- dramatic antithesis
- literary antithesis
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else.
Love is the antithesis of selfishness.
Often appears as...
- direct antithesis
- polar antithesis
noun
A contrast or opposition between two things.
The antithesis between obligation and self-interest.
Often appears as...
- stark antithesis
- clear antithesis
noun
A rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, is an example of antithesis.
Often appears as...
- dramatic antithesis
- literary antithesis
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Direct Opposites
Use 'antithesis' to talk about two things that are completely opposite in nature or character.
Silence is the antithesis of a roaring engine.
Pro Tip 2/3Understanding Through Contrast
By highlighting the antithesis, you can deepen understanding of the original concept.
War is the antithesis of peace.
Pro Tip 3/3Emphasize Differences
Using 'antithesis' emphasizes the magnitude of difference between opposing ideas or things.
His straightforward approach is the antithesis of his colleague's elusive tactics.
Pro Tip 1/3Direct Opposites
Use 'antithesis' to talk about two things that are completely opposite in nature or character.
Silence is the antithesis of a roaring engine.
Pro Tip 2/3Understanding Through Contrast
By highlighting the antithesis, you can deepen understanding of the original concept.
War is the antithesis of peace.
Pro Tip 3/3Emphasize Differences
Using 'antithesis' emphasizes the magnitude of difference between opposing ideas or things.
His straightforward approach is the antithesis of his colleague's elusive tactics.
Pro Tip 1/3Direct Opposites
Use 'antithesis' to talk about two things that are completely opposite in nature or character.
Silence is the antithesis of a roaring engine.
Pro Tip 2/3Understanding Through Contrast
By highlighting the antithesis, you can deepen understanding of the original concept.
War is the antithesis of peace.
Pro Tip 3/3Emphasize Differences
Using 'antithesis' emphasizes the magnitude of difference between opposing ideas or things.
His straightforward approach is the antithesis of his colleague's elusive tactics.
Never forget "Antithesis"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
Dambisa Moyo: Is China...
and in effect go around the world and continue to try and push an agenda of private capitalism and liberal democracy, this is basically going against headwinds, but it also would be a natural stance for the West to take because in many ways it is the antithesis
Video examples
Watch Wild Predators...
and a hole in it for a lot of ways and what what I really liked about them in this particular show is that their path was kind of the antithesis of all the others while everybody else was fighting to survive these guys were getting fat
Video examples
Why being invisible can...
yourself as part of something larger that they are both the antithesis and the antidote to our age of relentless self-promotion thank you
Video examples
Dambisa Moyo: Is China...
and in effect go around the world and continue to try and push an agenda of private capitalism and liberal democracy, this is basically going against headwinds, but it also would be a natural stance for the West to take because in many ways it is the antithesis
Video examples
Watch Wild Predators...
and a hole in it for a lot of ways and what what I really liked about them in this particular show is that their path was kind of the antithesis of all the others while everybody else was fighting to survive these guys were getting fat
Video examples
Why being invisible can...
yourself as part of something larger that they are both the antithesis and the antidote to our age of relentless self-promotion thank you
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Whit Stillman
American Director
What I like and find liberating in dialogue comedy is that the characters, and what they say, are not me. These are fleeting thoughts and observations and not presented as truths but as something that illuminates the character and the dynamic between the characters. This kind of dialogue is thesis and antithesis - and we never get to a synthesis.
Quote examples
Kevin Young
The hoax is the very absence of truth, which usually means art is absent, too - hoaxes regularly substitute claims of reality for imagination, facts for form, acting as if artifice is the antithesis of art.
Quote examples
Aaron Stanford
American Actor
My life has been the antithesis of that book 'The Secret'. I've always been interested in doing what I do. I love storytelling and I really enjoyed acting, but it never seemed like a realistic thing.
Quote examples
Kim Brooks
American Writer
Having a kid who begged for 'just a few more minutes' of television was the antithesis of what I had hoped parenthood would be. It was resigning ourselves to a universe of want and consumption.
Quote examples
Maren Morris
American Musician
Being the everyman in the writing room helps a lot: you have to be a real collaborator and selfless, and not have ego when you walk in there. That's the antithesis of the artist mentality.
Quote examples
Amber Rudd
British Politician
British people overwhelmingly reject the prejudiced rhetoric of the far right, which is the antithesis of the values this country represents: decency, tolerance, respect.
Quote examples
Ben Fogle
English Writer
Lego for many parents is the antithesis of the high tech world. We are desperate to wean our little ones away from the tablets and into the bricks.
Quote examples
Sam Shepard
American Playwright
I always thought the desert was the antithesis of peace - something that attacks you. So you don't go to the desert for peace.
Quote examples
John O. Brennan
American Public Servant
Al-Qa'ida is the antithesis of the peace, tolerance and humanity that is at the heart of Islam.
Quote examples
Thomas Sowell
American Economist
A moral monopoly is the antithesis of a marketplace of ideas.
Quote examples
Whit Stillman
American Director
What I like and find liberating in dialogue comedy is that the characters, and what they say, are not me. These are fleeting thoughts and observations and not presented as truths but as something that illuminates the character and the dynamic between the characters. This kind of dialogue is thesis and antithesis - and we never get to a synthesis.
Quote examples
Kevin Young
The hoax is the very absence of truth, which usually means art is absent, too - hoaxes regularly substitute claims of reality for imagination, facts for form, acting as if artifice is the antithesis of art.
Quote examples
Aaron Stanford
American Actor
My life has been the antithesis of that book 'The Secret'. I've always been interested in doing what I do. I love storytelling and I really enjoyed acting, but it never seemed like a realistic thing.
Quote examples
Kim Brooks
American Writer
Having a kid who begged for 'just a few more minutes' of television was the antithesis of what I had hoped parenthood would be. It was resigning ourselves to a universe of want and consumption.
Quote examples
Maren Morris
American Musician
Being the everyman in the writing room helps a lot: you have to be a real collaborator and selfless, and not have ego when you walk in there. That's the antithesis of the artist mentality.
Quote examples
Amber Rudd
British Politician
British people overwhelmingly reject the prejudiced rhetoric of the far right, which is the antithesis of the values this country represents: decency, tolerance, respect.
Quote examples
Ben Fogle
English Writer
Lego for many parents is the antithesis of the high tech world. We are desperate to wean our little ones away from the tablets and into the bricks.
Quote examples
Sam Shepard
American Playwright
I always thought the desert was the antithesis of peace - something that attacks you. So you don't go to the desert for peace.
Quote examples
John O. Brennan
American Public Servant
Al-Qa'ida is the antithesis of the peace, tolerance and humanity that is at the heart of Islam.
Quote examples
Thomas Sowell
American Economist
A moral monopoly is the antithesis of a marketplace of ideas.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension