What is an antonym? Learn the meaning of antonym and see examples

Understanding antonyms

Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. Here are some examples:

• Pretty and ugly
• Good and bad
• Fast and slow
• Big and small
• Hot and cold

An antonym can be an adjective, adverb, noun, preposition, or verb.

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Different types of antonyms

There are a few different types of antonyms: auto-antonyms, converse antonyms, complementary antonyms, and graded antonyms. Let’s dig into each one:

What are auto-antonyms?

Auto-antonyms are also known as contranyms. An auto-antonym is a single word that can take on opposite meanings. An example of an auto-antonym is the word “clip.” The word “clip” means to attach or cut something. For example:

• Can you clip the dog’s nails?
• Please clip the ID tag to your uniform when you enter the office.

Another example of an auto-antonym is the word “out.” The word “out” can mean available or unavailable, depending on the context. For example:

• The movie came out last week.
• We’re out of apples.

What are converse antonyms?

Converse antonyms are also known as relational antonyms. These antonyms are words that are related to each other in some way yet can’t exist without one another. An example of converse antonyms are “parent” and “child.” You can’t be a parent without having a child, and all children must have a parent. Another example of a converse antonym is “buy” and “sell.” To sell something, there needs to be a buyer and vice versa.

What are complementary antonyms?

Complementary antonyms are also known as direct antonyms, binary antonyms, or contradictory antonyms. Complementary antonyms are words that are completely opposite from each other. These antonyms have no middle ground. Here are some examples:

• True and false
• Empty and full
• Open and closed
• Dead and alive
• Pass and fail

What are graded antonyms?

Graded antonyms, also known as gradable antonyms, are words that are opposite from each other but are used to describe qualities. Some examples of gradable antonyms include:

• Light and heavy
• Short and tall
• Near and far
• Hot and cold

Why are antonyms important?

Understanding antonyms helps you improve your vocabulary by teaching you the meaning of words and their opposites. For example, if you have trouble remembering what the word “impoverished” means, connect it to the antonym “rich” to help recall its meaning.

Knowing how to use and find antonyms can also improve your word choice and help you communicate more effectively. For example, instead of describing a character as “not nice,” use an antonym of “nice” like “unpleasant” or “cruel” to highlight their opposite traits. Similarly, instead of describing a character as “not very smart,” try an antonym of “smart” like “obtuse” or “dull.”

How to find antonyms

To find antonyms, you can check a thesaurus. A thesaurus is like a dictionary, but instead of listing definitions, it includes synonyms and antonyms. To use an online thesaurus, simply search “antonym for” and then include the word you’re seeking. For example, if you’re looking for antonyms for the word “bad”, search “antonyms for bad” online. Artificial intelligence (AI) is another excellent way to discover new antonyms. Ask your AI tool to “give me antonyms for [word].”

What’s the difference between an antonym and a synonym?

Synonyms are two different words or phrases that have the same or similar meanings. This is different from antonyms, which are words that have opposite meanings. If you’re having trouble remembering the difference, try associating “synonym” with “similar” and “antonym” with “anti.”