antithetical

adjective

an·​ti·​thet·​i·​cal ˌan-tə-ˈthe-ti-kəl 

variants or less commonly antithetic

ˌan-tə-ˈthe-tik 

1

: being in direct and unequivocal opposition : directly opposite or opposed

… some see the idea of a museum for rock & roll as antithetical to the music's rebellious ethic …

—Al Weisel

2

: constituting or marked by antithesis

antithetical conflict

antithetically

ˌan-tə-ˈthe-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Did you know?

Antithetical and antithesis come from the Greek verb antitithenai, meaning "to oppose." The oldest sense of antithesis refers to a language pattern that contrasts parallel ideas, as in "action, not words" or "they promised plenty and delivered scarcity," and antithetical originally referred to anything that was marked by such antithesis. For example, you could say that the phrase 'action, not words' is an antithetical construction. It is more common, however, for antithesis to mean "the exact opposite" and for antithetical to mean "directly opposite," as in "an idea antithetical to our stated goals."

Synonyms

• contradictory
• contrary
• opposite

Choose the Right Synonym for antithetical

opposite, contradictory, contrary, antithetical mean being so far apart as to be or seem irreconcilable.

opposite applies to things in sharp contrast or in conflict.

opposite views on foreign aid

contradictory applies to two things that completely negate each other so that if one is true or valid the other must be untrue or invalid.

made contradictory predictions about whether the market would rise or fall

contrary implies extreme divergence or diametrical opposition.

contrary assessments of the war situation

antithetical stresses clear and unequivocal diametrical opposition.

a law that is antithetical to the very idea of democracy

Examples of antithetical in a Sentence

the antithetical forces of good and evil

spiritual concerns and ideals that are antithetical to the materialism embraced by modern society

Recent Examples on the Web

The issue has divided much of Trump’s base, between traditional GOP war hawks and those who claim further military intervention would be antithetical to MAGA values. —Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 19 June 2025

The Trump administration seems willing to meet the right people in tech and say the right things, but its policies are antithetical to a thriving ecosystem of innovation. —Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 6 June 2025

This state of affairs, Brooks thinks, is antithetical to music’s purpose. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 5 May 2025

Such practices are antithetical to the American tradition of an independent, adversarial press. —Jim Martin, Denver Post, 1 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

see antithesis

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for antithetical

• alphabetical
• arithmetical
• catechetical
• exegetical
• homiletical
• hypothetical
• parenthetical
• theoretical
• aesthetical
• genetical
• heretical
• magnetical

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