Do you want to improve your vocabulary? If yes, we have the perfect solution for you. Discover 100+ antonym words and their meanings in this blog to improve your English! Test yourself along the way. Keep scrolling!
Table of Contents
- Antonym words | An overview
- Difference between synonyms and antonyms
- The role of antonyms
- List of 130 antonyms
- 50 more to go!
- 30 more to go!
- Types of antonyms
- 1. Auto antonyms
- 2. Complementary antonyms
- 3. Relational antonyms
- 4. Graded Antonyms
- The function of antonyms
- Can synonyms and antonyms enhance your vocabulary skills?
- Is there an easy way to learn antonym words?
- Key takeaways
- FAQs
Antonym words | An overview
The 20-volume Oxford Dictionary’s Second Edition has a whopping 171,476 words that are currently in use in the English language. Webster’s Third New International Dictionary includes close to 470,000 entries for new words. These numbers, however, do not accurately cover the expanse of words and meanings that are encompassed within the English language. Your current vocabulary may include many daily use English words, but are you aware of the right antonym words to use in your conversations?
The word “antonym” has its origins in the Greek language. The Greek word for “opposite” is “anti” and “name” is “onym.” Antonyms, therefore, are words that have opposite or contrasting meanings. In fact, the word antonym, coined in 1867, serves as the opposite of synonyms.
Understanding the kinds of antonyms and examples of the same can help you create an impact in your everyday conversations. Through these antonyms, you can make your writing more fun and engaging. They can also help you ace your IELTS and TOEFL. But do you know what some key differences between antonyms and synonyms are? Let’s have a look!
Difference between synonyms and antonyms
| Antonyms | Synonyms |
| Words that are opposites of each other are called antonyms. | Words that have similar or identical meanings are called synonyms. |
| According to Merriam Webster, an antonym is a word of opposite meaning. | According to Merriam Webster, a synonym is one of two or more words or expressions of the same language that have the same or nearly the same meaning in some or all senses. |
| Examples- Divide – Unite; Vacant – Occupied; Freeze – Boil. | Examples- Annihilation – Destruction; Polite – Gracious; Risky – Dangerous. |
The role of antonyms
- Antonyms serve as a good explanation of the lexicography in the definitions of words in the dictionary.
- They also appear like a good tool for forming the antithesis in literature. Also, the figurative antonym meaning is an expressive tool in the literature.
- For the word-formation linguistic ability, it can be said that they play a significant role in enriching the language and vocabulary.
- Antonyms also show the ability to better explain words with their meaning in analogous and bilingual dictionaries.
- In psychology, antonyms can be linked with studies associating words through which the human mind can function in relation to countering.
- In literature, opposites are analyzed as distinguishing features of dramatic prose.
List of 130 antonyms
Here are 130 antonyms words that can be an excellent tool to enrich your vocabulary and foster meaningful conversations in English.
1. Artificial – Natural
2. Arrive – Depart
3. Argue – Agree
4. All – None
5. Amateur – Professional
6. Alive – Dead
7. Advanced – Elementary
8. Adult – Child
9. Ancestor – Descendant
10. Angel – Devil
11. Boy – Girl
12. Build – Destroy
13. Buy – Sell
14. Borrow – Lend
15. Body – Soul
16. Blunt – Sharp
17. Bitter – Sweet
18. Bottom – Top
19. Boring – Exciting
20. Busy – Lazy
21. Ceiling – Floor
22. Catch – Miss
23. Careful – Careless
24. Calm – Excited
25. Close – Open
26. Cold – Hot
27. Clear – Cloudy
28. Child – Adult
29. Certainly – Probably
30. Callous – Sensitive
31. Die – Live
32. Dictatorship – Republic
33. Dainty – Clumsy
34. Desperate – Hopeful
35. Divide – Unite
36. Domestic – Foreign
37. Distant – Near
38. Different – Alike
39. Drama – Comedy
40. Dull – Interesting
41. Emigration – Immigration
42. Empty – Full
43. Eager – Apathetic
44. Everything – Nothing
45. Evening – Morning
46. Even – Odd
47. Exclude – Include
48. Expensive – Cheap
49. Export – Import
50. Exit – Entrance
50 more to go!
51. Foreground – Background
52. For – Against
53. Forbid – Allow
54. Flippant – Somber
55. Flat – Hilly
56. Future – Past
57. Frequently – Occasionally
58. Funny – Serious
59. Free- Dependent
60. Friend – Enemy
61. Gaiety – Misery
62. Give – Take
63. Guest – Host
64. Guilty – Innocent
65. Gentle – Violent
66. Gentleman – Lady
67. General – Particular
68. Grown-Up – Child
69. Good – Bad
70. Giant – Tiny
71. Heavy – Light
72. Heaven – Hell
73. Hopeful – Desperate
74. Health – Disease
75. Hate – Love
76. Harvest – Plant
77. Handsome – Ugly
78. Happy – Sad
79. High – Low
80. Here – There
81. Intentional – Accidental
82. Intelligent – Silly
83. Inside – Outside
84. Ignore – Notice
85. Increase – Reduce
86. Interrupt – Continue
87. Insult – Compliment
88. Ill – Healthy
89. Ignore – Notice
90. Import – Export
91. Loser – Winner
92. Lower – Higher
93. Marry – Divorce
94. Mend – Break
95. Midnight – Noon
96. Melt – Freeze
97. Negative – Affirmative
98. Native – Foreigner
99. Nasty – Nice
100. Narrow – Broad
30 more to go!
101. Happy – Wistful
102. Humble – Proud
103. Important – Trivial
104. Safe – Unsafe
105. Secure – Insecure
106. Intentional – Accidental
107. Brighten – Fade
108. Broad – Narrow
109. Limited – Boundless
110. War – Peace
111. Permanent – Temporary
112. Plentiful – Scarce
113. Plural – Singular
114. Guilty – Innocent
115. Zenith – Nadir
116. Zip – Unzip
117. Exterior – Interior
118. External – Internal
119. Justice- Injustice
120. Adjunct – Separated
121. Brittle – Tough
122. Bind – Release
123. Boisterous – Placid
124. Chastise – Cheer
125. Contrary – Similar
126. Cunning – Naive
127. Ferocious – Gentle
128. Glory – Shame
129. Adamant – Flexible
130. Compress – Expand
Types of antonyms
It is imperative for English language speakers to have an understanding of when to use what word. This can help speakers structure their conversations and convey their messages accurately.
Understanding the kinds of antonyms in English is a good step towards creating meaningful and relevant sentences – both verbal and written.
1. Auto antonyms
Auto-antonyms are words that have two meanings, including an opposite meaning. Auto-antonyms are also referred to as “Janu words” and “contronym.”
Examples of auto-antonyms are-
I. Clip (Verb)
Meaning 1 – To hold tightly or fasten together.
Meaning 2 – To cut off or cut apart.
II. Give Out (Verb)
Meaning 1 – To stop producing or cease functioning.
Meaning 2 – To distribute or produce
III. Bound (Verb)
Meaning 1 – To spring or leap.
Meaning 2 – To be restrained by a material such as rope.
IV. Moot (Adjective)
Meaning 1 – Something academic and debatable.
Meaning 2 – Irrelevant.
V. Oversight (Noun)
Meaning 1 – To keep under watchful care or supervision
Meaning 2 – To omit or make an omission.
2. Complementary antonyms
Complementary antonym words are also referred to as contradictory antonyms or direct antonyms. These are words that exist independently of one another. They do not need any other term or definition to be included in a statement.
Examples of complementary antonyms are-
I. True – False
II. Entrance – Exit
III. Night – Day
IV. Dead – Alive
V. Pass – Fail
3. Relational antonyms
Relational antonyms are also referred to as converse antonyms. This term describes word pairs where the opposite makes sense only in the context of the relationship between the two meanings. An example of relational antonyms is “near” and “far,” since an object cannot be near without measuring it against an object that is far away.
Examples of relational antonyms include-
I. Teacher – Pupil
II. Teach – Learn
III. Come – Go
IV. Parent – Child
V. Doctor – Patient
4. Graded Antonyms
Graded antonyms show a variation or grade between words that have similar meanings. For example, the words “overjoyed,” “gratified,” “pleased,” and “content” have a connection in relation to the word happy. These antonyms can be used in place of regular-use terms.
Additional examples of graded antonyms include-
I. Healthy – Vigorous, Fit, Strong
II. Sad – Gloomy, Dejected, Miserable
III. Stupid – Obtuse, Foolish, Unwise, Dim
IV. Petite – Slight, Little
V. Big – Huge, Full-Size, Bulky
The function of antonyms
- Learning antonyms is an easy and effective way of enhancing your vocabulary.
- Recognizing words in combination with the other or in relation to other groups of words can help you derive the right meanings and insights.
- Studying antonyms allows you to choose your words appropriately when conveying a message to your audience.
- Learning these opposite words will additionally facilitate following instructions and directions to the T.
- Antonym words help you better describe the state of the world around you.
- In addition to school texts, it helps dictionaries explain words better to foreign students.
- Antonyms are also key to designing the signs on traffic lights, visual artworks, and more.
Can synonyms and antonyms enhance your vocabulary skills?
Learning synonyms and antonyms is a great way to improve your vocabulary as you get several substitutes for the same word. This helps in-
- Minimizing monotony in your language, and you might be able to capture the attention of your audience too.
- Antonyms and synonyms can also help you express yourself better by using the right word in the right place.
- Using these words can also help make your language interesting and effective.
- Lastly, many competitive exams judge you on your vocabulary or have synonyms and antonyms as part of the syllabus. Learning these words can help you nail those exams.
Is there an easy way to learn antonym words?
While learning antonyms can enrich your vocabulary, it might also leave you confused if you try to do it all at once. Therefore, we have listed some effective ways of learning these words-
- Begin with learning a few words and inculcating those in your vocabulary. Try and integrate the words you learn in your conversations and writing. Only then will it serve its purpose.
- Don’t try to learn antonyms and synonyms together, as it might confuse you and affect your fluency in English. Instead, learn one thing at a time and master it before moving on to the next.
- Start with familiarizing yourself with synonyms and antonym words related to your interests, hobbies, etc. Then, you can move to watching movies, listening to podcasts, reading blogs, etc., to broaden your horizon of learning.
- Don’t mug up the antonym words, as they won’t always fit the same in every sentence. Instead, learn what the word means in the sentence context and use antonyms when appropriate.
- Take every word as a new word and learn its meaning. This way, your brain will build connections, and antonyms will come more naturally over time.
Key takeaways
- The word “antonym” is derived from the Greek equivalent of the words “opposite” and “name.” Therefore, antonym words help convey the opposite aspect of an idea.
- There are many antonyms that are used in everyday conversation. Understanding these antonyms can help structure sentences and increase vocabulary.
- There are four different kinds of antonyms- auto-antonyms, complementary antonyms, relational antonyms, and graded antonyms.
- Understanding the applications of antonyms is key to using them effectively and without errors.
- Use antonyms to make sentences more refined and interesting.
- Save the antonym list given above. Learn 5 or more each day and incorporate them into your daily vocabulary.
- Make this process fun by trying word games and using different antonyms each time.
That’s all we have for you in this blog. If you have any questions/suggestions, reach out to us or drop a comment below.
Liked this blog? Read next: English speech topics | Best topics to engage your audience!
FAQs
Q1. What is the difference between a synonym and an antonym?
Answer – Synonyms are words that have the same or a similar meaning to a given the word. Antonyms are words that have an opposite meaning.
Q2. What is a synecdoche?
Answer – A synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part represents a whole.
Q3. How are antonyms used in debates?
Answer – Antonyms can be used effectively in debates to draw comparisons between two or more points of view.
Q4. What is the best antonym for the word common?
Answer- Some antonyms for the word common are-
- Uncommon
- Rare
- Exceptional
- Infrequent
- Peculiar
- Irregular
Q5. What does antonym mean?
Answer- Words that have opposite meanings are called antonyms. They can be used to make sentences sound more interesting and grab the readers’ attention.
Q6. How do you use antonyms?
Answer- When you use antonyms, you can show contrast in points and give clear distinctions in meanings. They give you speech/language a broader variation. To use antonyms right, first, figure out the meaning of the word you want to use. To make a sentence sound and feel right, use antonyms of the same word.
Antonym example- The ocean waves look fierce today, but they were very gentle yesterday.
Q7. Does every word have an antonym?
Answer- No, not all words have antonyms, but most nouns, verbs, adverbs, and adjectives do. Some words can have more than one antonym; for example, the antonym for neat can be messy and untidy.
The English language is a mystery to many non-speakers. This is largely due to the contradictions within the language itself, such as English words that have opposite definitions despite being spelled the same way. If you’re an English speaker, you do not pay much attention to these things. But for English language learners, these types of words add to their confusion with the language.
Do you know what the words that are spelled similarly and have two different meanings are called? They are called contronyms. The simplest explanation is that they are words that have opposite meanings.
Several nyms comprise the English language. Words that mean the same thing are synonyms. Words that sound the same but have different spelling, such as pear and pair are homonyms. Antonyms are the opposite meaning of a word. Heteronyms are words spelled similarly but pronounced differently.
What is a contronym?
A contronym is one word that has opposite meanings, which depends on the context of its use. It seems illogical that one word can have two different meanings, which can be the exact opposite of the other at times. For example, the word cleave means to cling, to adhere or to stick to something or someone. But it can also mean to cut, to split or to separate.
A contronym has other names, too. Some people call it contronym while others refer to it as autoantonym. More descriptive terms include antilogy, self-antonym, enantiodrome and antagonym. There’s still another term that many people use to refer to contronyms – Janus words. It was derived from Janus, an Italian deity of old, said to be heaven’s doorkeeper whose head has two faces, one in front and one at the back.
Development of English words with opposite meanings
The English language continues to evolve, including its parts. People, especially native speakers of English use contronyms in their daily conversation, but it may be tricky for learners of the language.
Contronyms develop over time as a result of constant use. For example, according to its etymology, the word blunt used to mean obtuse (person) or dull (weapons, tools) when it was used from the 12th century to the late 14th century. But around the 1580s, it became a word to mean sharp, referring to abrupt manner or speech, which takes on the context of making an unceremoniously made or direct comment. Another example is the word bolt, an Old English term whose original meaning (as a verb) is to fix or fasten something. Centuries later, bolt is also used to mean spring into sudden action, which could have been derived from bolt (noun) that refers to a missile or projectile such as an arrow.
One vital thing for English language learners to remember is to understand the context in using a word so that they will not make the mistake of saying something that is contradictory to the intended meaning.
This knowledge is essential in interpretation and translation as well. If a contronym is used in a different context, it can distort the whole meaning of the conversation or a sentence. If you need translation or interpreting services, ensure that you collaborate with a professional and native-speaking translator or interpreter, so as to avoid these types of mistakes.
The development of contronyms is also due to pronunciation changes through the years. Let’s look at the word cleave again. It means to join together and to split apart. It came from two Old English words, cleofan (split apart, separate) and cleofian (also clifian, cliofian) (adhere, stick together). Through years of use, the two words started to sound the same and later merged to become cleave.
Here’s another interesting one. Let is a word that used to mean stop, delay, obstruct, impede. It came from the Old English term lettan. Another Old English word, lætan means to leave undone, leave behind, bequeath or to allow. The original words later formed the contronym, let.
In some cases, the difference is the variant of English one uses creates the contronyms. In a parliamentary procedure, to table a bill means that the bill could be discussed, considered or reconsidered in British English. In American English however, it means to suspend or postpone the consideration.
Examples of contronyms
If you love languages, you’ll have fun with contronyms. But for many people, it can be confusing. So instead of getting confused, here are some examples of contronyms, which could be words that you use every day or see often. You may not even realize that you are using them in two different contexts because you are so used to them.
- Sanction is either to impose a penalty on something or give official approval or permission.
- You use left when you mean someone or something is still remaining (this is what’s left of the bunch), but it can also be used to mean someone departed (left the party, group, team, etc.).
- You dust the furniture to remove dirt. You can also dust, in the context of applying it, such as dusting a cake with powdered sugar.
- When you seed a cucumber, you are removing its seeds. When you seed your lawn, you are adding seeds (grass) to the soil.
- Trim can mean to cut or remove irregularities or outgrowth (plants, trees) or reduce the length of your hair. But you can also use the word to mean embellishing or decorating something, such as a Christmas tree.
- When you mean something or someone is moving rapidly, you say it or she/he is fast. In terms of fabric color, it means that the dye will not run. It can also mean something is unmoving or fixed.
- Off, when used as an adjective can mean something is not in operation or is deactivated, such as the stove is off or the light is off. It can also mean activated (the alarm went off) as well. As an adverb, it can denote distance in relation to space and time (the dinghy is two kilometers off the shore) or moving from a position or place (drove off, went off to work, event is still two weeks off).
- Weather is an atmospheric condition, but it could mean enduring, as in weathered the economic downturn, or worn away, just like weathered wood or rock.
- You can either screen to hide or block out an ugly view or corner, or use it to mean show (film/movie), test or sort.
- Clip can mean bind things together, such as sheets of paper. It can also mean to separate or cut away or a part, as in clip your fingernails, clip the wings.
- Centuries back, flog meant to whip, cane or beat a person or animal. In today’s application, it is used as a sales term, as in persistently promote something (such as a book).
- The word hold can either mean to support something or someone, but it can also mean hinder, arrest or confine.
- When you say toss, it can either mean discarding something, but it can also mean suggesting (like toss out an idea).
- The military term anabasis means military retreat as well as military advance.
Here are more contronyms for you to use:
- Aught (nothing, all)
- Chuffed (annoyed, pleased)
- Consult (give advice, seek advice)
- Custom (special, usual)
- Dollop (small amount, large amount)
- Enjoin (prohibit, prescribe)
- Garnish (curtail wages, enhance food)
- Give out (stop production, produce)
- Grade (level, incline)
- Handicap (disadvantage e.g. physical or mental condition, advantage)
- Mean (excellent, average)
- Put out (generate, extinguish)
- Strike (miss, hit)
- Transparent (obvious, invisible)
- Unbending (relaxing, rigid)
- Wind up (start up, end)
- Story (factual, untrue account)
- Scan (skim, scrutinize)
- Refrain (stop an action, repeat an action, e.g, song refrain)
- Oversight (close control and scrutiny, accidental error or omission)
- Overlook (place to see things from above, miss seeing things or details)
- Peruse (read in a cursory or casual way, go over something attentively)
Remember that when using contronyms, you have to be aware of the words’ context, to ensure that you are relaying the right message.
Assurance of right context and correct definitions
The job of a professional translator is to provide an accurate translation of a source document into any language, which also includes careful consideration of the context of the message to ensure its proper delivery. At Day Translations, Inc. we work only with native speakers, to ensure the quality of the language. Our translators live in-country, so they are not only fluent in the language, but they are also fully knowledgeable of the culture of their country. They are professionals with years of experience in language services.
We also have subject matter experts for specific translation needs. We see to it that all the translation projects we handle pass through our quality control process to make sure that ensure accuracy, appropriateness of terminology and proper context. For all your translation and interpreting needs, call Day Translations. We offer a full suite of language services so you only have to talk to one organization. We are available 24/7, 365 days of the year. You can reach us through 1-800-969-6853. You have the option to send us an email as well here: Contact us.
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Opposite Words in English PDF Download: A word that expresses meaning in opposition to the meaning of a certain word is known as an opposite word. The two words in this instance are referred to as antonyms of one another. Students should acquire as many antonyms and opposite terms as they can because this will help them expand their vocabulary and strengthen their command of the English language. «Opposite words» is an important topic in English Grammar. For competitive exams, in the reading comprehension topic or in the English language section, questions from the Opposite Words in English are common. These terms will be crucial to your academic development as well as the improvement of your reading and writing abilities. However, the list of opposite words in English a to z is provided below. The candidates in search of Antonyms/Opposite Words, frequently want to know about opposite words in English 20, opposite words in English list, words and opposite in English, opposite words in English 100, opposite words in English 10, opposite words in English a to z 200, opposite words in English a to z list, 100 opposite words in English, opposite words in English 20 PDF Download, 100 opposite words in English pdf download, 100 opposite words in English easy, etc., can refer to this article for more info.
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Opposite Words In English a-z
It is not possible for one individual to study the antonyms of every word in the English lexicon due to the scope of the topic «Opposite Words.» There are many opposite terms that we frequently use in our daily lives, but some of us might not be familiar with all of them. We have listed more than 1000 opposing terms in this post for your reference; browse through them and attempt to understand a few new words with opposing connotations. This article will teach you many of the opposing words used in English grammar, which will undoubtedly improve your vocabulary, especially if you’re getting ready for competitive exams like the Bank Exams, SSC Exams, UPSC, and others where you have to study for the English subject. Candidates aspiring to know all the z opposite words, 1000 opposite words in English, and opposite words in English a-z can read further.
Opposite Words In English a to z PDF Download
Candidates preparing for competitive exams can make use of the opposite words in English a to z PDF Download link provided below. With the help of opposite words in English a to z PDF Download link, aspirants can learn the opposite words easily and also they can download the PDF and take printouts if necessary. Make use of the opposite words in English a to z PDF Download link for effective preparation.
Opposite Words In English a to z PDF Download
Opposite Words In English List: Basic Words Antonyms
Here we have added the list of opposite words in English for the reference of the candidates. Below is a collection of some general and simple opposing words in English. Utilize these antonyms to expand your vocabulary in English. You can read the following general 100 opposite words in English easy here.
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Opposite Words In English List: Basic Words Antonyms |
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| Words | Antonyms In English |
| Absent | Present |
|
After |
Before |
|
Active |
Lazy |
|
Brave |
Afraid |
|
Bitter |
Sweet |
|
Beginning |
End |
|
Blunt |
Sharp |
| Big | Small / Little |
| Cheap | Expensive |
| Clean | Dirty |
|
Close |
Open |
| Deep | Shallow |
|
Day |
Night |
| Down | Up |
|
Daughter |
Son |
| Early | Late |
| Easy | Difficult / Hard |
|
Enter |
Exit |
| Far | Near / Close |
|
Friend |
Enemy |
| Fast | Slow |
| Fat | Thin / Skinny |
| Full | Empty |
| Good | Bad |
| Happy | Sad |
| Heavy | Light |
|
Happy |
Sad |
| Here | There |
| High | Low |
| Hot | Cold |
| In | Out |
| Inside | Outside |
| Interesting | Boring |
| Light | Dark |
| Long | Short |
| Loud | Soft |
| Many | Few |
|
Male |
Female |
| New | Old |
|
Near |
Far |
|
Over |
Under |
| Rich | Poor |
| Right | Left |
| Right | Wrong |
| Safe | Dangerous |
| Single | Married |
| Smooth | Rough |
| Soft | Hard |
| Strong | Weak |
| Tall | Short |
| Thick | Thin |
| Tight | Loose |
|
Top |
Bottom |
|
Ugly |
Beautiful |
|
Vertical |
Horizontal |
| Warm | Cool |
| Wet | Dry |
| Wide | Narrow |
| Young | Old |
|
Yesterday |
Tomorrow |
| Yes | No |
Opposite Words In English a to z List
Here you can find out the opposite words in English in alphabetical order from a to z.
Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘A’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter A tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘A’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘B’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter B tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘B’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘C’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter C tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘C’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘D’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter D tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘D’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘E’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter E tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘E’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘F’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter F tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘F’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘G’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter G tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘G’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘H’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter H tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘H’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘I’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter I tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘I’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘J’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter J tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘J’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘K’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter K tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘K’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘L’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter L tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘L’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘M’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter M tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘M’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘N’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter N tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘N’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘O’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter O tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘O’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘P’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter P tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘P’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘Q’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter Q tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘Q’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘R’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter R tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘R’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘S’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter S tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘S’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘T’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter T tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘T’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘U’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter U tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘U’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘V’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter V tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘V’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘W’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter W tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘W’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘X’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter X tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘X’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘Y’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter Y tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘Y’ |
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Opposite Words In English Starting With Letter ‘Z’
Aspirants can check the important opposite words in English starting with the letter Z tabulated below.
Opposite Words In English Starting With ‘Z’ / Z opposite words |
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Opposite Words In English Exercises
In the English language portion of numerous tests, including SSC (SSC CGL, CHSL, JE, etc.), UPSC (NDA, CDS, etc.), Banking, and more, candidates who are taking government examinations commonly encounter questions relating to antonyms/opposite words. The opposite words that are requested in the vocabulary part are more complex than the straightforward opposite terms mentioned before. A few significant questions from the perspective of competitive exams are presented below for practice using opposite words.
Choose the word opposite in meaning to the given word
Q1. Xenophobic
- yang
- Impartial
- qualified
- Original
Ans. (b)
Q2. Optimist
- courteous
- messy
- pessimist
- sink
Ans. (c)
Q3. Wisdom
- folly
- Impartial
- always
- courteous
Ans. (a)
Q4. Ally
- enemy
- together
- repulsive
- support
Ans. (a)
Q5. Scatter
- disperse
- Inhospitable
- even
- collect
Ans. (d)
Q6. Bless
- blame
- praise
- curse
- enjoy
Ans. (c)
Q7. Cheerful
- Happy
- dreary
- Entertain
- optimistic
Ans. (b)
Q8. Hinder
- trouble
- help
- disturbance
- pessimistic
Ans. (b)
Q9. Calm
- relax
- satisfied
- Righteous
- Windy
Ans. (d)
Q10. Nefarious
- Recuperate
- Stupidity
- Righteous
- Sobriety
Ans. (c)
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FAQs — Opposite Words in the English Language
Q. What are the opposing words in English?
A word that expresses meaning in opposition to the meaning of a certain word is known as an opposite word. The two words in this instance are referred to as antonyms of one another.
Q. What is the opposite word of benefit?
Some of the opposite words of benefit are, disadvantage, hindrance, drawback, impediment, minus, liability, obstacle, etc.,
Q. What are the opposite words of kind?
The opposite words of kind are unkind, inconsiderate, mean, etc.,
Q. What are the opposite words of tall?
The opposite words of tall are short, small, low, etc.,
Q. What are the opposite words of fat?
The opposite words of fat are thin, skinny, etc.,
It is difficult to find antonyms for words. What are antonyms and examples of their enrichment of the Russian language. What is the antonym
Antonyms are words that are different in sound and have opposite meanings: lie is true, evil is kind, to be silent is to speak. Examples of antonyms show that they refer to the same part of speech.
Antonymy in Russian is presented much narrower than synonymy. This is due to the fact that only words enter into antonymic relations that are related in terms of quality (good — bad, native — alien, smart — stupid, thick — rare, high — low), temporary (day — night, early — late), quantitative (the only one — multiple, many — few), spatial (spacious — close, large — small, wide — narrow, high — low) signs.
There are antonymic pairs denoting the names of states, actions. Examples of antonyms of this kind: rejoice — grieve, cry — laugh.
Types and examples of antonyms in Russian
In terms of structure, antonyms are divided into different roots (morning — evening) and one-root (go in — go out). The opposite of meaning for single-root antonyms is caused by prefixes.
However, it should be remembered that the addition to adverbs and prefixes without-, not— in most cases, attaches to them the meaning of a weakened opposite (high — low), so the contrast of their values turns out to be «muted» (low — this does not mean «low»).
Based on this, not all prefix formations can be attributed to antonyms, but only those that are the extreme points of the lexical paradigm: strong — powerless, harmful — harmless, successful — unsuccessful.
Antonyms, as well as synonyms, are closely related to ambiguity: empty — serious (conversation); empty — full (cup); empty — expressive (look); empty — meaningful (story). Examples of antonyms show that different meanings of the word «empty» are included in different antonymic pairs. Unambiguous words, as well as words with specific meanings (iambic, pencil, desk, notebook, etc.) cannot have antonyms.
Among the antonyms, there is also the phenomenon of enantiosemia — this is the development of mutually exclusive, opposite meanings of some ambiguous words: to carry (to the room, to bring) — to carry (from the room, to take away); abandoned (phrase just spoken) — abandoned (abandoned, forgotten). The meaning in such cases is specified in the context. Often, enantiosemia is the cause of the ambiguity of certain expressions. Examples of antonyms of this kind: he listened to the report; the director looked at these lines.
Contextual antonyms: examples and definition
Contextual antonyms are words opposed in a specific context: moonlight — sunlight; not a mother, but a daughter; one day — all life; wolves are sheep. The polarity of the meanings of such words in the language is not fixed, and their opposition is an individual author’s decision. The writer in such cases reveals the opposite qualities of various concepts and contrasts them in speech. However, these pairs of words are not antonyms.
Antonyms are words, belonging to the same part of speech, differing in spelling and sound, and meaning directly opposite concepts.
One part of speech is not the only condition under which words of the opposite meaning can be called antonyms. There must be some common feature between these words. That is, both concepts should describe feeling, or time, or space, or quality and quantity — in which case they will be antonyms.
Examples of antonyms
Let’s analyze this definition with examples.
Antonym for the word «Before»
The antonym for the word «before» will be the word «now»… Both words are adverbs — “when? before ”and“ when? now». Both of them are united by a common feature — the description of time. But if the word «before» describes a situation or event that took place sometime in the past, then the word «now» refers to the present. Thus, the words are opposite in meaning and are antonyms.
Antonym for the word «Friendly»
The antonym for the word «friendly» is the word «Unfriendly»… Both concepts refer to one part of speech — the adverb. As the rule requires, they are united by a common feature — that is, they describe an emotional shade. But if the word «friendly» means joy and pleasure (for example, from someone’s presence), then «unfriendly» has the exact opposite meaning — the one whose appearance or speech is characterized by this word is clearly not happy about anything.
Antonym for the word «Tears»
The antonym for the word «tears» will be the word «laughter». Both concepts refer to nouns, both of which describe an emotional action. But if in the first case the emotion is clearly negative — tears of grief, tears of sadness, tears of pain — then the word «laughter» means joy, happiness and fun. Words are opposite in meaning — and therefore they are antonyms.
Other popular antonyms
Below is a list of words and their antonyms.
- The word «Synonym», the antonym is «Antonym».
- The word «Interesting», the antonym — «Boring».
- The word «Wind», the antonym — «Quiet».
- The word «Find», the antonym — «Lose».
- The word «Fresh», the antonym — «Spoiled, stale.»
- The word «Beautiful», the antonym — «Disgusting, terrible.»
- The word «Snow», the antonym — «Rain».
- The word «Waited», the antonym — «Sudden, unexpected».
- The word «Carefully», the antonym — «Careless».
- The word «Sun», the antonym — «Moon».
- The word «Day», the antonym — «Night».
- The word «Fast», the opposite is «slow».
We hope you now know what an antonym is.
How nice it is to see and listen to an interesting person. I always admire people who know the word. I hope you share my opinion.
There are very few sources of quality language in our children’s environment today. Just very little.
Which exit? This environment must be created. I already talked about this in an article about the theatrical activities of children. Word games give good results for the mind and speech. ,for example, when we are looking for a word that is opposite in meaning to the given one, thinking is accelerated.
An antonym is a word that is the opposite of a given one in meaning.
For preschoolers, the expression «enemy words» is more understandable. But you can introduce the concept of «antonyms to the word.» I usually tell the kid: “Now we will look for the“ enemy words ”. They are also called «antonyms». You will learn this word at school. So remember, it will still be useful to you. «
Believe the experience, the preschooler will definitely try to remember and flaunt in front of his friends and parents. Sometimes this can be explained to schoolchildren, if the search for antonyms is news to them. And these are not only first grade students.
The game. Finish the sentence and name the «enemy words»
Instruction. «You and I will come up with proposals: I will come up with a beginning, and you will come up with an end.»
- the mosquito is small, and the elephant;
- the fluff is light, but the stone;
- mustard is bitter and sugar;
- the bush is low, and the tree;
- the compote is cold, and the soup;
- thick sour cream, and milk;
- narrow brook, river;
- it is dark at night and during the day;
- sugar is sweet and lemon;
- walk with their feet and throw;
- the kindergarten is close, but the school;
- the tape is narrow and the belt;
- the stream is shallow and the lake;
- the lark sings, and the crow;
- the plane flies high, and the helicopter;
- the turtle crawls slowly, the hare gallops;
- there is a lot of water in a saucepan, but in a glass;
- the buyer buys and the seller;
- hot in summer and winter;
- they have breakfast in the morning, and at noon;
- salt is salted, and sugar;
- the children are responsible, and the educator;
- children leave kindergarten in the evening, and in the morning;
- fruits grow on the tree, and in the garden;
- flowers appear on trees in spring, and in autumn;
- get out of bed in the morning, and in the evening;
- the skyscraper is tall, and the hut;
- birds fly and snakes;
- they dine at noon, and in the evening;
- the viewer watches the movie and reads the book;
- there is dirt on the street, but in the house;
- the trunk of the tree is thick, and the twig.
- pencil draws and eraser
The game. Say the opposite
Instruction. «I will tell you a word, and you say the other way around» (give an example)
| night -; breakfast -; evening -; enemy -; cleanliness -; cold -; war -; grass -; earth -; movement -; talker -; health -.; mind — | enter -; be silent -; gave -; get up -; undress -; raise -; laugh -; turn on -; close -; come -; appear -; eat -. | large -; black -; low -; bad -; sick -; old -; young -; wide -; thick -; narrow -; complex -; dry — .; bitter — |
Words with the opposite meaning are absent in the dictionary even of high school students. Therefore, the search for antonyms is currently relevant until the graduation class.
Learning how to search for antonyms for a word for both preschoolers and schoolchildren should start with a simple one. Schoolchildren may resent the simplicity. Explain to warm up. Complicate: answer directly «in flight». Typically, guys with limited vocabulary already have a loser complex. By immediately proposing complex (for example, abstract) words, you can get a complete rejection of classes.
Semantic opposites in verses
It’s time for you and me to Play the game «On the contrary». I will say the word High, and you will answer:
Low.
I will say the word Far away, and you will answer:
(close).
I will say the word Ceiling, and you will answer:
(floor).
I will say the word Lost. And you say:
(found).
I will tell you the word Coward, You will answer:
(brave man).
Now the Beginning I will say, — Well, answer:
(end) (D. Chiardi)
I do not like the word «heat», I’m in the river, in the thick shade And in bottles of lemonade, And my name?
(Cool)
An enemy of the word «laughter». Not from joy, pleasures, I happen against my will And from happiness, and from pain, From resentment, failure. Have you guessed? — It
Source: https://apriori-nauka.ru/profilaktika/podobrat-antonimy-k-slovam-slozhnyi-chto-takoe-antonimy-i-primery.html
What are antonyms in Russian? Examples of words
Antonyms — these are words of the same part of speech with the opposite meaning. Let us indicate examples of antonyms that are words of different parts of speech.
The concept of antonyms
The variety and richness of the vocabulary of the Russian language create synonyms, antonyms, paronyms and homonyms. To find out what the linguistic term «antonyms» means, let us turn to its origin. This word is made up of the Greek prefix anti-, which means «against,» and the word «onyma» is «name.» As a result, we get the meaning of the word «antonym» — «opposite name».
Let us give a precise definition of this term.
Definition
Antonyms — these are words of the same part of speech with the opposite lexical meaning.
And here is the definition of what antonyms are given by Wikipedia:
Antonyms (Old Greek ἀντι- prefix with the meaning of the opposite + ὄνομα «name») — these are words of the same part of speech, different in sound and spelling, having directly opposite lexical meanings, for example: «truth» — «lie», «kind» — «evil», «speak» — «be silent.»
Antonyms, unlike synonyms, have exactly the opposite lexical meaning:
- smart — stupid;
- day Night;
- cordially — hostile.
Antonyms, as a rule, are words of the same part of speech that answer the same question. They characterize an object, feature or phenomenon from the same side, pointing to the same quality, but the opposite in meaning. These words make up antonymic pairs.
Word examples
Here are examples of antonyms belonging to different parts of speech.
Nouns-antonyms
- sunrise — sunset;
- good evil;
- morning evening;
- peace is war;
- fire water;
- a hard worker is a slacker;
- summer Winter;
- friend — enemy;
- sadness is joy;
- chatterbox — silent;
- courage is cowardice.
Adjectives-antonyms
- dirty — clean;
- brave — cowardly;
- loud — quiet;
- wide narrow;
- thick — thin;
- long short;
- strong — weak;
- high Low;
- feminine — masculine;
- light dark;
- distant — close.
Verbs-antonyms
- to be silent — to speak;
- run — stand;
- to rejoice — to be upset;
- it got dark — dawn;
- to scold — to praise;
- take — give;
- build — break;
- protect — offend;
- get wet — dry.
Adverbs-antonyms
- in winter — in summer;
- in the morning — in the evening;
- on foot — running;
- interesting — boring;
- early late;
- in front — behind;
- always — never;
- here — there;
- deep — shallow.
What do antonyms mean?
After observing the antonyms, we will find out that they express different relationships:
1.temporal
- end — beginning;
- during the day — at night;
- early — late;
2.spatial
- far close;
- left right;
- inside Outside;
3.high quality
- love is hate;
- anger is kindness;
- cheerful — sad;
- young — old;
4.quantitative
- a lot — a little;
- excess — lack;
- expensive — cheap.
Single root antonyms
In the vocabulary of the Russian language, pairs of antonyms with different roots and one-root antonyms are distinguished. A pair of single-root antonyms are words that have the same root in the morphemic composition, but differ in opposite prefixes:
- to carry — to bring;
- insert — expose;
- to run away — to resort;
- undress — get dressed;
- close — open;
- guess — guess.
Single-root antonyms are created by the prefix non-:
- cheerful — unhappy look;
- close — not a short way;
- loud — quiet whisper;
- simple is not an easy task;
- few — many questions.
The meaning of antonyms in speech
Antonyms make our speech more imaginative and vivid.
Opposition helps to tell figuratively about completely opposite phenomena, to draw pictures of the world around that are unlike each other, to highlight one quality of an object against the background of another comparable to it, to convey more fully and accurately the feelings and experiences of people.
These words enrich any utterance, as they clarify the meaning of the words. Thanks to antonyms, speech becomes expressive, beautiful and accurate. To be convinced of this, let’s observe the statements of thinkers and famous writers.
From a bad beginning and the end is bad (Euripides).
Joys are forgotten, but sorrows — never (M. Yu. Lermontov).
To love good, you need to hate evil with all your heart (F. Wolf).
Both evil and good — everyone receives a reward for their actions (J. Goethe).
Antonyms in proverbs
There would be no happiness, but misfortune helped.
Prepare the sleigh in the summer and the cart in the winter.
You don’t know where you will find it, and where you will lose it.
Not salted on the table, salted on the back.
They are greeted by their clothes, they are escorted by their minds.
The truth in the fire does not burn and does not sink in the water.
The well-fed does not understand the hungry.
The morning is wiser than the evening.
Talk less and do more.
At first it is thick, but at the end it is empty.
A foolish person is looking for a place, but a reasonable one can be seen in the corner.
White bread will be born on the black earth.
He who knows a lot sleeps a little.
They did it early, but galloped late.
A full ear tilts to the ground, and an empty ear stretches to the sky.
Contextual antonyms
Words can enter into antonymic relations depending on the meaning of the context. Such words become antonyms in a certain message at the will of its author.
Contextual antonyms clarify the writer’s thought, make it figurative and help to create a complete description of the described phenomenon or object.
With their help, it is possible to express the ultimate opposition between the considered phenomena of reality, the qualities of objects, the feelings of people. Contextual antonyms are volumetric and accurately express the author’s assessment of the depicted.
They got along. Wave and stone, poetry and prose, ice and fire are not so different from each other (A.S. Pushkin).
Phraseologisms-antonyms
Antonyms can be not only individual words, but also phrases and turns of speech. Stable phrases, phraseological units, can have the opposite meaning, that is, they are antonyms.
Examples
- in all shoulder blades — at a snail’s pace;
- work up your sleeves — work carelessly;
- chickens do not bite — the cat cried;
- word for word — written on the water with a pitchfork;
- a stone’s throw from here — at the devil’s place;
- seven spans in the forehead — without a king in the head;
- to fight off from hands — to pick up;
- keep a stone in your bosom — with an open mind;
- sit back — work tirelessly;
- keep your ears open — count the crows;
- sharpen the fringes — collect water in your mouth;
- to sit on someone else’s neck — to live with your hump;
- from board to board — from the fifth to the tenth.
lesson
Source: https://russkiiyazyk.ru/leksika/antonimy-primery-slov.html
Antonyms are adjectives examples of words. What is Antonym? Examples. Verbs-antonyms: examples of words in Russian
Synonyms are words belonging to the same part of speech, different in spelling and pronunciation, but similar in lexical name (cheerful — joyful). Antonyms are words belonging to the same part of speech, different in spelling and pronunciation, with directly opposite lexical meanings. (funny — sad). Synonymous nouns: fun is joy, moon is month, doctor is doctor. Nouns-antonyms: minus — plus, evil — good, heat — cold.
Nouns are a group of words that give names to people, objects, abstract concepts, natural phenomena, etc. Nouns answer the questions who? or what? Among the nouns, various subgroups are distinguished according to the meaning of words. Among such subgroups are synonyms and antonyms.
What are synonyms and antonyms
Synonyms are words whose meaning is very similar. At the same time, words sound and are spelled differently and have nothing in common. For example, trouble and sorrow, doctor and doctor. These words have exactly the same meanings and can be used in the same situations. Such synonyms are called absolute.
In addition to absolute, there are partial synonyms. For example hot and hot. When describing the weather, we can say both «hot weather» and «hot weather», but with the word «tea» we can only put «hot tea». «Hot» in this case will sound silly.
Also, synonyms can be a word and a phrase. For example, morning is the beginning of the day. In this case, one word «morning» can be replaced by two words without losing the meaning.
Synonyms are used when in the text it is necessary to avoid the constant use of the same words.
Antonyms are words with the opposite meaning. Unlike synonyms, antonyms can have completely different spellings, but they can also be single-root words. The former include the words «black» and «white». The second is the example of «truth» and «untruth».
It is also worth mentioning that synonyms form a synonymous series, in which there can be an unlimited number of words. For example, nonsense, nonsense, nonsense, nonsense, nonsense Antonyms form only pairs: heavy — light, kind — evil, strong — weak.
Examples of synonyms and antonyms
To better understand the difference between synonyms and antonyms, consider a few examples:
- day — night — words could be considered synonyms, because they denote part of the day, but these are antonyms, since day is the light part, night is the dark part;
- lake — pond — synonyms. There is a difference between a lake and a pond, but these bodies of water are very similar and the words are synonymous;
- space — the universe — synonyms;
- noise — silence — antonyms.
Antonyms are words that belong to the same part of speech, differ in sound and spelling, and have exactly the opposite meaning. Belonging to one part of speech is not the only condition according to which words that have an opposite in meaning can be called antonyms; there must be a common feature between such words, for example, when both concepts describe feeling, time, space, quantity, quality, etc.
Source: https://dark-lore.ru/rasteniya-i-zhivotnye/antonimy-prilagatelnye-primery-slov-chto-takoe-antonim-primery/
Synonyms, antonyms and homonyms
- Synonyms
- Words put on and put on
- Antonyms
- Homonyms
Synonyms — these are words related to the same part of speech, different in sound and spelling, but denoting the same thing. For example:
sweet — sugar
the sun is a star
Words that are close in meaning form synonymous row:
cheat, lie, cheat, cheat
In a number of synonyms, all words refer to one part of speech (nouns, adjectives, verbs), but differ in shades of meaning. For example:
wet, wet, wet
All words are adjectives and call the same feature of an object — not dry. Each word has its own shade of meaning:
wet — slightly damp, not completely dry
wet — slightly wet, very wet
wet — completely saturated with water
Synonyms can be not only separate words, but also stable phrases (phraseological units):
deceive — lead by the nose
Words put on and put on
Words clothe и put on are not synonyms and cannot replace each other in speech.
Dress up can only someone or something, for example:
dress a doll, dress a child
I dressed the doll in a beautiful dress. I need to dress my daughter.
Put on you can only do something on yourself or on someone (for something), for example:
put on a suit, put on a ring
I put a beautiful dress on the doll. You need to put a ring on your daughter’s finger.
To make it easier to remember the difference between clothe и put on the following sentence can be used:
Put on clothes, put on Hope.
Antonyms
Antonyms — these are words that refer to the same part of speech, but have the opposite meaning. For example:
far close
a lot — a little
sunny — cloudy
Antonyms can also be single-root words, the opposite meaning in this case is usually created by negative prefixes: not-, without-, anti-, counter-. For example:
happy — unhappy
joyful — joyless
virus — antivirus
attack — counterattack
come — leave
Homonyms — these are words related to the same part of speech, the same in sound and spelling, but completely different in lexical meaning. For example:
Boxer — dog breed.
Boxer — a boxing person.
The lexical meaning of homonyms can be distinguished only in context, that is, in phrases and sentences, since a separate word does not allow determining its meaning:
paint brush — hand brush
Homonyms are divided into complete and incomplete. Complete homonyms — these are words of one part of speech, the same sound and spelling, but have different meanings. Examples of full homonyms are given above. There are three types of incomplete homonyms in Russian: homographs, homophones and homoforms.
- Homographs — these are words of one part of speech, differing in stress, that is, different in pronunciation and meaning. For example:
castle with large windows — a reliable lock
- Homophones — these are words of the same part of speech, differing in spelling and meaning, but having the same pronunciation. For example:
ball — point, ghost — cast
- Omoforms — these are words of different parts of speech, having the same spelling and pronunciation, but differing in meaning. For example:
Russian oven (noun) — to bake pies (also:)
sharp saw (noun) — drank tea with cookies (also)
Source: https://naobumium.info/russkiy/sinonimy.php
Fact-checked by
Paul Mazzola
What is an antonym?
Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. The word antonym comes from Greek and means “against a name.” There are three types of antonyms, and many words can have multiple antonyms, depending on the meaning of the original word. As literary devices, antonyms are one of the simplest to find and use.
Types of antonyms
Antonyms exist on three levels of thought. Many are just binary pairs or complementary antonyms, like these:
-
in/out
-
backward/forward
-
bad/good
-
true/false
Other antonym pairs are relational antonyms, in which one word implies its opposite related word, even if it is not mentioned:
-
doctor/patient
-
husband/wife
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lend/borrow
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predator/prey
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take/get
Words that have a sense of relation are said to have antonymy.
A third level, graded or gradable antonyms, exist along a sliding scale of meanings:
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hot/cold exist as extremes of the temperature spectrum, including warm/cool, toasty/frosty
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dull/interesting has companion antonyms along the attention span spectrum like boring/fascinating, tiresome/enthralling
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empty/full lie at opposite ends of either literal capacity (like a storage container) or figurative language (like an empty life, half-lived life, full life)
In addition to the three types, many antonym pairs come from adding prefixes that mean not or no, and these can be helpful in writing:
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comfortable/uncomfortable
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illegible/legible
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unfit/fit
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typical/atypical
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irresponsible/responsible
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modest/immodest
Antonyms examples
An antonym is a word that is the opposite of another word. Here is a list of example antonyms for you to review:
| Word | Antonyms |
|---|---|
| information | ignorance, question, silence |
| definition | ambiguity, question, vagueness |
| help | encumberance, obstuction, harm |
| explain | conceal, misrepresent, withhold |
| use | halt, misuse, neglect |
| account | conceal, erase, hide |
| parallel | diverge, perpendicular, refuse |
| fact | fiction, lie, fabrication |
| simple | complex, intricate, involved |
| need | nonesential, luxury, comfort |
This list of examples is not exhaustive. Most of these words have alternative meanings, which means there are alternative antonyms for them as well.
You can find synonyms and antonyms for most words using a Thesaurus or by searching Google.
Expanding your vocabulary with antonyms
Knowing you have choices in applying the power of antonyms, you can improve your writing by choosing the higher-level antonyms and avoiding complementary antonyms.
Of course, great authors have used complementary antonyms to great effect. Here are the opening lines of “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens. They form a master class in using antonyms:
It was the best of times,
it was the worst of times,
it was the age of wisdom,
it was the age of foolishness,
it was the epoch of belief,
it was the epoch of incredulity,
it was the season of Light,
it was the season of Darkness,
it was the spring of hope,
it was the winter of despair,
we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way– in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.
When you focus your attention on subtler antonym pairs than those that are complementary, you learn nuance. Nuance refers to the shades of meaning and usage in language.
Consider two choices and the quality of writing each demonstrates:
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here/not here
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presence/absence
Using polysyllabic antonyms adds interest to your writing, whether you are composing fiction or nonfiction. Studying antonym pairs help you see relationships between concepts, not just words. Can you see a qualitative difference in using fat/thin and obese/gaunt?
Studying antonyms is a great way to learn new words, too.
Contronyms
Words that are their own antonyms are called contronyms or Janus words after the Roman god, Janus, who had two faces looking into the past and future.
Take a word like fast, which often means speedy or quick. Yet fast also means to stay put.
Other Janus words and a sense of their opposite meanings include:
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Cleave – On the treacherous mountainside, the brave geologists cleaved to one another as they searched for rocks that would easily cleave, or split, into pieces.
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Dust – An actor playing the forest fairy will dust the sleeping couple with magic powder. Later, the stagehand will have to dust the stage to get rid of the powder.
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Peruse – You can peruse the contract word by word, making certain you understand it, or you can quickly peruse it and skim to the end.
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Sanction – We sanction, or approve, the decision by the ethics director to sanction, or disapprove of, the behavior of the corrupt officials.
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Table – We can table this item for the next meeting, or we can table the topic, calling for immediate consideration.
Antonym quiz
Decide if these words are antonyms or something else:
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Up/down
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Inside/outside
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Grey/green
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Black/white
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Young/old
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Happy/joyful
Read the example sentence and decide if the underlined word is a contronym or not:
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The Congressional committee performed careful oversight of the funds, eager to ensure no money was wasted as an oversight.
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The bad smell in the kitchen told everyone that the overripe fruit had gone bad and must be composted.
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The dancers tripped the light fantastic on the dance floor until one of them tripped and fell.
Think of an antonymous word (a word having opposite meaning) for each of the following. Don’t be afraid to look up the word if you don’t know it:
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Accolade
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Agile
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Copious
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Obese
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Statuesque
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Turbulent
Before you look, try it! Here are the answers:
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Up and down are complementary antonyms.
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Inside and outside are complementary antonyms.
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Grey and green are not antonyms.
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Black and white are complementary antonyms.
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Young and old are graded antonyms.
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Happy and joyful are synonyms, not antonyms.
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The word “oversight” is a contronym.
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The word “bad” is not an antonym. Some modern slang includes using “bad” to mean “good,” but that is not its use here.
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The word “tripped” is a contronym.
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Accolade could pair with antonyms such as reproof, indictment, censure, denunciation, condemnation, or reprimand.
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Agile could pair with an antonym like clumsy, stiff, awkward, slow, or lazy.
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Copious could pair with an antonym such as meager, lacking, scarce, or wanting.
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Obese can pair with an antonym like underweight, skinny, emaciated, or anorexic.
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Statuesque, an elegant word, can pair with an elegant antonym like grotesque, frumpy, or uncomely.
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Turbulent could pair with an antonym such as peaceable, peaceful, or halcyon.