What is an antonym?

An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word.

Examples:

fast and slow

hot and cold

happy and sad

off and on

push and pull

 

There are three types of antonymy:

1. Gradable antonyms are those which operate on a continuum (a sequence of gradations between two extremes). For example, something can be very soft or very hard, or quite soft or quite hard, or any degree of softness or hardness in between two extremes.

big and small

dark and light

hot and cold

hard and soft

high and low

fat and thin

 

2. Complementary antonyms are those which express an either / or relationship: there is no continuum or middle ground between two these extremes. For example, something can be either dead or alive or true or false - it cannot be between these extremes.

depart or arrive

on or off

push or pull

send or receive

exit or entrance

question or answer

 

3. Converse or relational antonyms are those where one cannot exist without the other.  For example, if someone is a husband there must also be a wife, and if someone is a parent then there must also be a child.

doctor or patient

teacher or pupil

buy or sell

borrow or lend

give or receive

 

 

 

Image by Cyron Ray Macey