antithesis

The definition of antithesis is a contrary or opposite opinion, concept, or characteristic.

(noun)

An example of someone who is the antithesis of friendly is a grump.

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See antithesis in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. antitheses

  1. a contrast or opposition of thoughts, usually in two phrases, clauses, or sentences (Ex.: you are going; I am staying)
  2. the second part of such an expression
  3. a contrast or opposition
  4. the exact opposite: joy is the antithesis of sorrow

Origin: ME antitesis < LL antithesis < Gr < antithenai < anti-, against + tithenai, to place: see do

See antithesis in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. an·tith·e·ses (-sēzˌ)
  1. Direct contrast; opposition.
  2. The direct or exact opposite: Hope is the antithesis of despair.
  3. a. A figure of speech in which sharply contrasting ideas are juxtaposed in a balanced or parallel phrase or grammatical structure, as in “Hee for God only, shee for God in him” (John Milton).
    b. The second and contrasting part of such a juxtaposition.
  4. The second stage of the Hegelian dialectic process, representing the opposite of the thesis.

Origin:

Origin: Late Latin

Origin: , from Greek

Origin: , from antitithenai, antithe-, to oppose

Origin: : anti-, anti-

Origin: + tithenai, to set; see dhē- in Indo-European roots

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