antithesis

noun an·tith·e·sis \ an-ˈti-thə-səs \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

Definition of antithesis

plural antitheses play \-ˌsēz\

1 a : the direct opposite

Her temperament is the very antithesis of mine.

b (1) : the rhetorical contrast of ideas by means of parallel arrangements of words, clauses, or sentences (as in "action, not words" or "they promised freedom and provided slavery")

(2) : opposition, contrast

the antithesis of prose and verse

c : the second of two opposing words, clauses, or sentences that are being rhetorically contrasted

2 philosophy : the second stage of a dialectical process

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Examples of antithesis in a Sentence

In urban areas, middle schools often became the antithesis of what reformers had intended. Instead of warm incubators of independence and judgment, they became impersonal, oppressive institutions. —Claudia Wallis, Time, 8 Aug. 2005
Yet the newest residential rage in Dallas is the antithesis of the traditional neighborhood: the gated community. Depending on your income and level of anxiety, these private enclaves may contain golf courses, health clubs and equestrian centers … —Paul McFedries, Word Spy, 2004
Cato, who dosed his family on cabbage soup, derided Greek physicians as the antithesis of Roman virtue: they were frauds who cheated patients and 'have sworn to kill all barbarians with their drugs'. —Roy Porter, The Greatest Benefit to Mankind, 1997
true love for another is the antithesis of the desire to control that person's life

Recent Examples of antithesis from the Web

Lula’s jailing is a blow for Jair Bolsonaro, a right-wing demagogue who portrays himself as the antithesis of Lula.

— The Economist, "Lula goes to jail," 8 Apr. 2018
The Ramblers were the antithesis of the recruiting revolving door, just passing through, one-and-done zeitgeist that has overtaken the college game.

— christopher l. gasper, BostonGlobe.com, "Despite loss, Loyola Chicago proved it belonged all along," 1 Apr. 2018
The products, packaged in gray and pink tubes or gold- and black-tone compacts, are the antithesis of the multistep lip kits and more-is-more looks made popular by millennial beauty vloggers.

— florence kane, WSJ, "At Home With the Power Couple Behind New Makeup Line Westman Atelier," 31 Mar. 2018
Like many urban districts represented in the #WeChoose movement, Detroit appears as an antithesis to the suburban scenario.

— allie gross, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit parents, teachers and youth push back on 'school choice' at education town hall," 14 Feb. 2018
There were selfies taken, posed photos with Karl and two looks that exist as the antithesis of each other.

— kerry pieri, Harper's BAZAAR, "Ultra-Femme Vs. Androgyny: A Face Off," 14 Mar. 2014
The three-day vote, which ends Wednesday, is shaping up to be a predictably low-watt and joyless affair, the antithesis of the youthful passions driving the Arab Spring in 2011, when Egyptians ousted their longtime ruler, President Hosni Mubarak.

— declan walsh and nour youssef, New York Times, "For as Little as $3 a Vote, Egyptians Trudge to Election Stations," 27 Mar. 2018
In the minds of many, the institution still embodies the very antithesis of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

— roy s. johnson, AL.com, "Racist videos 'not my first Armageddon,' says UA diversity, equity, inclusion VP," 15 Mar. 2018
Some experts said Graham, who was virtually absent from public life in the last 10 years because of Parkinson’s disease, was the antithesis of today’s climate.

— michelle boorstein, Washington Post, "Would Billy Graham be disgusted by evangelicals today?," 6 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'antithesis.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Writers and speechmakers use the traditional pattern known as antithesis for its resounding effect; John Kennedy's famous "ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country" is an example. But antithesis normally means simply "opposite". Thus, war is the antithesis of peace, wealth is the antithesis of poverty, and love is the antithesis of hate. Holding two antithetical ideas in one's head at the same time—for example, that you're the sole master of your fate but also the helpless victim of your terrible upbringing—is so common as to be almost normal.