What a antonym means Meaning and Definition
What a antonym means
Pronunciation
(no audio available)
Part of Speech
Noun phrase
Definition
In linguistics, an antonym means a word, phrase, or idiom that is opposed to another in meaning, often used to highlight the contrast or opposition between two concepts, ideas, or objects.
Examples
- The word ‘hot’ is an antonym of ‘cold’, emphasizing their opposition in meaning.
- The phrase ‘alive’ is an antonym of ‘dead’, highlighting their contrasting states.
Synonyms
- Opposite
- Contrast
- Opposition
Antonyms
- (none)
Etymology
The term ‘antonym’ comes from the Greek words ‘anti’ (against) and ‘onuma’ (name), referring to words having opposite meanings.
Usage Notes
Antonyms can be used in various contexts, such as contrasting two ideas, highlighting a contrast between two cultures, or emphasizing the difference between two objects or concepts.
Cultural References
In popular culture, antonyms are often used in wordplay, puns, and riddles to create clever and creative language.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
(none)
Related Words or Phrases
- Synonym
- Synecdoche
- Metonymy
Collocations
- word-for-word
- meaningful phrase
- contrasting idea
Frequency of Use
Antonyms are commonly used in everyday language, especially in discussions, debates, and creative writing.
Common Misspellings
- antemone
- anotym