Questions tagged [antonyms]
An antonym is a word with a meaning opposite to another word.
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Antonym of Objectification [closed]
I am attempting to write a paper where I discuss how characters in one novel are objectified, while others in another novel are rendered sensations or are defined emotionally. Is there a word for the ...
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using the right word - dismantle or disassembling a fitted object
I am confused about using dismantling and disassembling when it comes to furniture like door or chair. Can we say we dismantle a door or disassemble a door or simply broke them apart,pull it out or ...
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A word for someone who wrongly belittles others for using a larger vocabulary?
EDIT:
Some people can wrongly accuse others of being pretentious, verbose, or wordy JUST for having larger vocabularies (even slightly).
Is there a definition for people like this?
Thanks kindly for ...
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Color-based antonym of "blues"?
Context
The definition of "blues" being used here is:
feelings of melancholy, sadness, or depression.
Question
Is there an antonym of this word, but based on a color name? The antonym would ...
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What is the opposite of leftovers?
Like some family cooks, I often prepare more than is necessary to feed a hungry family; however, I hate throwing away food, and always try to re-serve creatively the following day.
Today, I was ...
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What is the antonym of "think highly of"?
Consider the sentence "I think highly of you." A quick Google search reveals the opposite to be "I think slightly of you", but I have never heard anyone say that. Is there a more ...
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Confusion over the antonyms of "Dawn" and "Dusk" [closed]
I always learnt "Dusk" to be the opposite of "Dawn" and used it like that until today when I am told it should be "Twilight".
The context is from following question which ...
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Antonym of aspect
One of the meanings of aspect, and I believe, one of its more original ones, is the observable or exposed side, or appearance of an object from a specific angle of view. That meaning has tended to ...
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In a case of hyponymy, mention which word is the hyponym; in a case of antonymy, tell what kind of antonymy it is [closed]
Is the relation between "night" and "day"
1/ a hyponymy?
2/ an antonymy? If antonymy, what kind of antonyms are they?
I need quick help.
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"Specialize" as a transitive verb and an antonym for "generalize"
In mathematical writing, I would like to find a transitive verb that means to "apply a general theory to a special case in order to get a theory for this special case". In other words, it ...
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Antonym for jinx
"Jinx" has a negative connotation for an action.
What's the opposite, an action that had a positive consequence under the superstition?
Like "lucky charm", but that doesn't really ...
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What type of antonym pair is borrow and lend? (and more generally, what's the relationship between relational vs. reversive antonyms?)
I've seen different sources (linguistics textbooks, online sources) classify the pair as "reversive" or as "relational/converse" antonyms. More generally, it seems sources vary in ...
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What title can be used in opposition of "Diseases of Attitude"?
I've been recently asked to watch a video titled "Diseases of Attitude". It's essentially a metaphor for people with attitude problems.
I'm intrigued to make an opposing title, such as "...
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Are there any pairs of English words that are cognate to each other yet have opposite meanings?
Alright, here's the best way I can explain this: if, hypothetically, the word pairs (love, loathe) and (friend, fiend) were cognates (i.e. they shared an etymological ancestor), they would be ...
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What's a synonym for transcend, but in a downward (metaphorical) direction?
Is there a word that could fill in the blank of this sentence I'm trying to write?
Another way to broaden possible adoption and impact is to work on problems or solutions that cross the boundaries of ...
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Positive antonym for trendy in fashion or overall personal appearance? [duplicate]
How do you describe someone's fashion sense in a positive way when it is the opposite of 'trendy'? By opposite of trendy I mean that it may still be considered to 'look good' (even though this is ...
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Why is the "r" doubled in "arrhythmia"? [duplicate]
Why is the "r" doubled in "arrhythmia" relative to "rhythmia"?
I'm guessing it's because English resists hyphenation of prefixes and suffixes ("a-rhythmia"), ...
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A synonym for "don't omit" not including a negativiser
I have a technical document with a lot of sentences like "Use X." or "Don't use Y."
Instead of "Don't use ..." I sometimes use "Omit ...". Whether to choose the ...
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What is the opposite of 'lockdown'?
The opposite of 'lock' is quite clearly 'unlock'.
But what is the single-word opposite of 'lockdown' ?
The family were relieved when the time came to _________________.
EDIT : The comment is noted ...
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Antonym of Abseil
Abseil, or rappel in AmE, means “to descend using a rope”. Is there a word for “ascend using a rope”?
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What's a word for the exact opposite of regret?
I know you can say you were "super glad you did something," but I'm looking for a word that expresses this in nominal form, i.e. the opposite of "my biggest regret." (my biggest ...
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Antonym of defuse?
Which is the best antonym for defuse?
Ideally it would be fuse, but I don't think this is an option.
Maybe activate?
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"Scientists and poets" — translation of the Russian phrase
In Russian, we have a phrase, which divides people on two categores - left brain and right brain. This is "physicists and lyricists" (физики и лирики). The first better work with maths ...
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Opposite: "Truer words were never spoken"
What would be the opposite of the phrase "Truer words were never spoken" ?
"I am truly grateful", said Alfred. "Untruer words were never spoken", snided Shelly.
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Opposite phrase of "close the distance"
What would be an appropriate opposite phrase for "close the distance".
Example:
The rabbit was fast. With every leap, the rabbit {{ grew the distance }} between it and the hunter.
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Is there a term for a phrase in which an antonym can be switched-in and yet it still retains the same, or synonymous, meaning as the original?
For example,
Based on/Based off,
Break up/Break down,
Write up/Write down,
Up for/Down for,
Went on/Went off,
Slow up/Slow down
These all retain similar meanings when substituting with antonyms.
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What's the counterpart term for "vassalage"?
Vassalage is the noun for having mutual obligations with a social superior in a feudal state, more or less.
What's the noun for this relationship going the other way? That is, if vassalage describes ...
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A situation where the adjective being used to describe the noun is actually the opposite of the adjective being used [duplicate]
Forgive me, for I am not very eloquent.
If someone were to tell a bad joke but in the given scenario it got some laughs and could be recounted as a “good joke” then the joke was _____.
On the ...
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Is there a pessimistic counterpart to the term "Pollyanna"?
The term "Pollyanna" came into the lexicon with the 1913 publication of Pollyanna, a novel by Eleanor H. Porter. The name has come to mean
A person regarded as being foolishly or blindly optimistic.
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What is the opposite of the word "Not"? [closed]
We are working on a technical manual and we'd like to have a word that is opposite to the word "Not".
Generally, the accepted way to address this is to omit the word itself. In this case however, it ...
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Correct opposite of checkbox ticked
I want to write "If left unticked ......" , but it seems like unticked is not a word(or is it?), what would the correct opposite of ticked because I use "If ticked ...." at the beginning of paragraph.
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What is the opposite of 'generously' in reference to credit-given or leniency?
'Generous' can be used to describe an amount of credit-given or leniency. When used in this way, what is the counterpart word that would imply a lack of leniency? The closest word I have is 'austere', ...
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Opposite of leaps and bounds
I was looking for a phrase that conveys the opposite meaning of leaps and bounds.
For e.g,
unlike suiteM, which can be learnt in leaps and bound in just a day, the learning of suiteE occurs in ...
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In Rock paper scissors, rock is scissors' "Kryptonite", scissors are "what" to rock?
I'm trying to find a word for something that always beats something else. Kryptonite might be used for something that you always lose to. From Superman, of course.
e.g. Rock is scissors' kryptonite (...
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What is the 'counterpart' of unprecedented?
I'm not looking for the literal antonym. Unprecedented means 'never seen/happened before then', but what is the word for 'never seen/happened since then'?
I have a feeling it might be unrepeated, ...
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Antonym for "evangelist" (in modern/technology industry usage)
The term "evangelist" gets used a lot by tech companies as a job title to describe those who try to push knowledge, use, and acceptance of a product, service, or company in a way which promotes the ...
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Antonyms of "Prefer...Over" [closed]
Is
"I prefer coffee over tea"
Equivalent to
"I defer tea over coffer"?
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Antonym of verb "mint"
I am looking for the antonym of the verb "mint" in the context of creating value assets, like coins; for example:
The Royal Mint has the right to mint new coins.
What is the opposite, when coins are ...
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Persuade antonym - unintentional
Background
Imagine you are a presidential candidate. You have a potential winning policy idea. Now is time to finesse the details. Your fundamental goal is persuade as many people as possible about ...
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Is there an antonym for nihilist?
I'm specifically thinking of nihilism as defined here:
Nihilism is the philosophical viewpoint that denies or lacks belief in any or all of the reputedly meaningful aspects of life.
Not nihilism in ...
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Is there a word for the opposite of a gift
In the way that we can think of a gift as given under obligation, like to signify a relationship at Christmas or to show love for a spouse, is there a word for a thing taken. A word for that thing ...
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Opposite of "to put on the back burner"
To "put on the backburner" is to postpone, potentially indefinitely. The closest I can muster to its opposite is to "put back on the table". Is there a better way to to phrase the idea of assuming a ...
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Opposite of ‘Irredeemable’ in Describing a Trait
I am helping a friend write a recommendation letter.
To me, he has one trait - tenacity - that makes him an excellent worker for his industry, as once he latches onto a problem, he persists in ...
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What's the opposite of telemetry? [closed]
The word is derived from Greek the roots tele, "remote", and metron, "measure". So what word is opposite?
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Antonym of "color blind"? [closed]
What is the antonym of "color blind"?
We do not assume that our customers are _____. After all, 5% of our potential customers are color blind.
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Is there a word for not being sympathetic to a position, but also not being ardent towards it? [closed]
Is there a word for something like, "moderate opposition?"
Context: A friend and I are trying to find or create a phrase for someone who isn't an anti-theistic militant atheist, but also isn't an ...
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Antonym for “boilerplate” or “cookie-cutter”
Context:
Your advice was so valuable because it went far beyond the cookie-cutter tips typical of coffee chats or quick phone calls.
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What is the counterpart of a consultant?
Someone who is consulted is a consultant, but what is his counterpart called? In other words, what do you call the person who consults them?
Asker sounds informal, consulter doesn't pass my spell ...
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Brief / debrief, flammable / inflammable — is there a term for pairs of words that appear to be antonyms but aren't? [duplicate]
Is there a word for a pair of words that would appear to be antonyms from their construction, but actually have the same or similar meanings?
For example, brief / debrief. From The Guardian:
A ...
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Antonym for "physical" as in "physical task"?
In my personal issue tracker, I want to sort tasks into one of two categories: The first category is labeled "physical" and contains all tasks involving physical work, e.g. housecleaning or handiwork. ...
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