3

Suppose I have two words, let's take "true" and "false". "False", is the direct opposite of "truth", and is an antonym of "truth". However, the word I am looking for is not "antonym".

If I was to ask what was the "direct opposite" of "black", the answer would have been "white". What word could have replaced "direct opposite" in this case?

Other examples include "dark" and "light", or "big" to "small". It is true these are antonyms, but these are special antonyms, they are the only ones that are the "equivalent opposites". "big" has other antonyms like "tiny", but "tiny" is the equivalent of "huge". "big"'s equivalent in opposite is "small".

EDIT, The word I am looking for has the meaning of "opposite match"

Improve this question

8 Answers 8

Reset to default
5

try antithesis

  1. Direct contrast; opposition.
  2. The direct or exact opposite
Improve this answer
7
  • +1, one can argue that it is always contextual, but the word does exist. kudos.
    – Unreason
    Commented May 27, 2011 at 9:29
  • 2
    I agree that it works for true and false, but it sounds awfully strange to say "big is the antithesis of small."
    – Kit Z. Fox ♦
    Commented May 27, 2011 at 11:53
  • @Kit now that you've written it, it looks strange; maybe "awfully" but I'm not yet sure ;)
    – Paul Amerigo Pajo
    Commented May 28, 2011 at 3:34
  • 1
    My question "Antithesis of International"
    – Thursagen
    Commented May 29, 2011 at 9:55
  • 1
    Antithesis is the opposite of a thesis. If the thing you're comparing against can't be characterised as a thesis (maybe metaphorically speaking), then antithesis probably isn't the right choice of word.
    – slim
    Commented Dec 20, 2011 at 10:44
3

I don't think you'll find such a single word, apart from… antonym.

True and false are antonyms, and so are black and white (listed as such in the New Oxford American Dictionary and other sources). You can look for synonyms of antonym, but the lists given (opposite, reverse) do not include anything that seems relevant to what you search (so you're a bit unclear).

Improve this answer
3
  • 1
    I told you I'm not looking for an antonym!
    – Thursagen
    Commented May 27, 2011 at 7:56
  • @Third Idiot: please give a better example; white is an antonym of black, so antonym really fits your question. In addition, the crux of my answer is that there is no single word term for this.
    – F'x
    Commented May 27, 2011 at 8:06
  • 1
    it seems pageman managed to find a single word
    – Unreason
    Commented May 27, 2011 at 9:28
2

The idiomatic term is "diametric opposite." I don't believe there is a single word for this.

Improve this answer
2
  • there is - it's antithesis - noun. A proposition that is the diametric opposite of some other proposition.
    – Paul Amerigo Pajo
    Commented May 27, 2011 at 9:21
  • 1
    Ooh! Good word! It had completely slipped my mind!
    – James McLeod
    Commented May 27, 2011 at 15:42
1

How about inverse? As an adjective: Opposite or contrary in position, direction, order, or effect. As a noun: Something that is the opposite or reverse of something else.

Improve this answer
1

Converse or counterpart if the context so requires.

Improve this answer
0

In logic, you'd call it "contradiction". See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_of_opposition

Improve this answer
2
  • 1
    You can't say, "What is the contradiction of "black"?" People wouldn't get you.
    – Thursagen
    Commented May 27, 2011 at 21:50
  • 1
    You could say it, just to be contrary. :P
    – JeffSahol
    Commented May 28, 2011 at 0:44
0

You tend to use direct opposite in terms of location

"His house is directly opposite mine"

Otherwise the word opposite by definition means what you're asking for.

Other words don't match in all cases such as reverse or contrary, opposite itself seems the universal one.

Improve this answer
-1

antipode or antipodal would suit this

Improve this answer

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.