Dictionary

antithesis en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ænˈtɪ.θə.sɪs/
• /ænˈtɪθ.ə.səs/
• /ænˈtɪθ.ɪ.sɪs/
• (US) audio

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. A proposition that is the diametric opposite of some other proposition.
   • Unless one final Schlafly paradox gets in the way. Before she died, the First Lady of the Conservative Movement endorsed Trump. That makes sense: Schlafly was a paleoconservative who was worried about immigration. But Trump has turned out to be the most unchivalrous candidate in living memory, the very antithesis of Schlafly’s ideal Christian standard. 2016 September 6, Timothy Stanley, “How Phyllis Schlafly gave us Sarah Palin”, in CNN:
   • On the night of the 2nd of March 2025, your actions were the antithesis of everything Paddington stands for. 2025 March 25, Daisy Stephens, “Paddington vandals 'antithesis' of bear, says judge”, in BBC:
   • For if every condition of everything conditioned (according to its existence) is sensuous, and therefore belongs to the series, that series is again conditioned (as shown in the antithesis of the fourth antinomy). 1881, Immanuel Kant, translated by F. Max Müller, Critique of Pure Reason, translation of original in German, page 486:
2. (rhetoric) A device by which two contrasting ideas are juxtaposed in parallel form; a figure of speech arranged in this manner
   • Antithesis, opposing things to things, Oft from the contrast strength and beauty brings. 1835, L[arret] Langley, “[Rhetorical Figures.] Antithesis.”, in A Manual of the Figures of Rhetoric, […], Doncaster, South Yorkshire: […] C. White, […], →OCLC, page 22:
3. The second stage of a dialectical process in which the thesis is negated.

Forms

Antonyms

epitome

Deriveds

antithetical · antithet · antitheticality · antitheticalness · antithesize · antithetically · antithetic · antithesise

Hypernyms

opposite · difference · antipode

Hyponyms

opponent · foil · antipodes · nemesis

Synonyms

opposite · antithesis · obverse · witherward · converse · inverse · contrary · reverse · polar opposite

Translations (45)

grc ἀντίθεσις (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · ja アンチテーゼ (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · cmn 對照 /对照 (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · kk шендестіру (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · cs antiteze (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · ota طباق (figure of speech) · sl antiteza (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · lzh-lit 麗辭 (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · it antitesi (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · ja 対照 (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · te వికల్పము (figure of speech) · ota طباق (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · ru противополо́жность (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · fi vastakohta (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · hu antitézis (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · hi प्रतिपक्ष (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · pt antítese (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · nl antithese (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · ro antiteză (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · ru антите́зис (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · el αντίθεση (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · mi kupu tauaro (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · cmn 對立 /对立 (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · ru антите́за (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · sh antiteza (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · cy gwrthosodiad (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · es antítesis (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · ga fritéis (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · eo antitezo (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · de Antithese (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · cmn 對偶 /对偶 (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · sw tabaini (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · fi antiteesi (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · id antitesis (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · non refhvǫrf (figure of speech) · fr antithèse (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · sv antites (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · pl antyteza (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · tl gantintikha (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · da antitese (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · uk антите́за (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · th ภาวะแย้ง (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · vi phản đề (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · ca antítesi (proposition that is opposite to other proposition) · mi tauarotanga (proposition that is opposite to other proposition)