Opposite (Noun)
Meaning 1
A word that expresses a meaning opposed to the meaning of another word, in which case the two words are antonyms of each other; "to him the antonym of `gay' was `depressed'".
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- In a debate, politicians often try to contrast their own positions with those of their opponents, emphasizing their own values as the opposite of what their opponents represent.
- She liked to point out that for every happy couple she saw, there was another relationship that served as its opposite.
- Synonyms and opposites of the term 'racist' need to be more accurately identified.
- At its simplest level, hate can be viewed as the opposite of love, encompassing disdain and feelings of harm toward someone or something.
- According to philosophers, it's always easy to conceive the opposite of whatever virtue they idealize, revealing contradictions inherent to ethics itself.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Meaning 2
Something inverted in sequence or character or effect; "when the direct approach failed he tried the inverse".
Classification
Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas.
Examples
- Her usual optimistic outlook was the opposite of her current melancholy mood.
- In the game, the opposite of winning was losing, but also occasionally a draw.
- He tried the opposite of what his instincts told him, and amazingly it worked.
- The new policy was the opposite of what we had been advocating for years.
- When the new strategy yielded the opposite result of what was expected, the team was confused.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Meaning 3
A relation of direct opposition; "we thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true".
Classification
Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas.
Examples
- The opposite of what I expected happened, and I was left feeling confused.
- In many ways, the two politicians are polar opposites, with vastly different views on key issues.
- The opposite of love is not hate, but rather indifference, according to the philosopher.
- The two teams were complete opposites, with one being highly experienced and the other being relatively new to the sport.
- The opposite of what the company had promised was true, and the customers were left feeling deceived.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 4
A contestant that you are matched against.
Classification
Nouns denoting people.
Examples
- I was nervous as I stepped onto the stage to face my opposite in the debate competition.
- My opposite in the chess tournament was a grandmaster from Russia.
- The crowd cheered as I was introduced alongside my opposite in the boxing match.
- I studied my opposite's past performances to gain an edge in the tennis tournament.
- My opposite in the quiz show was a trivia buff who had been on the program before.