obverse 1 of 2

as in opposite
something that is as different as possible from something else the new administration had promised peace and prosperity, but what we got was the obverse: war and recession

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

obverse

2 of 2

adjective

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obverse
Noun
The obverse side of the communications coin is that without TLS encryption, that information is there for anyone to sniff out. Davey Winder, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025 The obverse side will still feature the portrait of former President George Washington by Laura Gardin Fraser. Jordan D. Brown, Baltimore Sun, 3 Aug. 2023
Adjective
Kraft noted that the coin's obverse was identical to the 1806 British coinage, while the reverse was unique to the Bahamas. David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025 According to one estimate, 96 percent of the world’s population speaks just four percent of all languages, which means that the striking obverse is also true: just four percent of the world’s population speaks 96 percent of all languages. Ross Perlin, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024 See All Example Sentences for obverse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obverse
Noun
  • In fact, actually the opposite.
    Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
  • The two women, however, are polar opposites.
    Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Some of the latest diffuser technology, introduced by Dyson in the brand’s Supersonic Nural hair dryer last year, features a reverse airflow setting that draws hair into the diffuser’s bowl to stretch and dry curls or dry waves for effortless, French girl-style ‘dos.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2025
  • An investigation into Alexander Donahoe, a teacher at Jere Baxter Middle School, was launched in March after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported a computer with an IP address in Nashville was being used to conduct reverse image searches.
    Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • After awarding the voluntary furlough, management will proceed with involuntary furloughs in inverse order of system seniority up to the 1,800 number, in accordance with flight attendant contracts, the union said.
    Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
  • In fact, the shape of a paranormal event, like the one seen in the film, is exactly inverse to traditional story structure.
    Daniel Noah, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Obverse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obverse. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

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