Questions tagged [antonyms]
An antonym is a word with a meaning opposite to another word.
972
questions
2
votes
3answers
35 views
Looking for two synonyms for success/failure which rhyme [closed]
I’m looking for two words with the following conditions:
Word A is a synonym of “success” (or is the word “success”).
Word B is a synonym of “failure” (or is the word “failure”).
Words A and B rhyme.
...
1
vote
0answers
28 views
What is the opposite of the suffix -cide? [duplicate]
All the words ending with the suffix -cide explain what was killed. Is there a suffix for what did the killing? Killed by hammer, killed by fall, etc.?
Thanks.
1
vote
1answer
90 views
Is 'Pious' an antonym of itself?
I met a person recently who challenged my use of the word 'pious' for I thought it meant a devout and 'as unpretending as’ humanly possible toward religion, yet the other person thought I was speaking ...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
Antonym of operational in the sense of larger scope, and non-recurrence but not military
I'm looking for a word in that is an antonym of operational in something other than "does it function" and the online dictionary/thesaurus don't have it. Can you help me find the word, and ...
0
votes
2answers
63 views
antonym for 'culture'?
'Culture' is used to indicate something being normalized. For example: "rape culture"
Is there a word/phrase or anything to describe the opposite of this? Is there a word/phrase that I can ...
0
votes
0answers
39 views
Single noun meaning completed task
Assuming that a task is a piece of work to be completed, is there a single word or noun that would be the antonym of a task, meaning a piece of work that has been completed?
So far my best bet is ...
0
votes
0answers
48 views
Is deep the opposite of shallow?
I came across a text today that suggested that deep is the opposite of shallow but I found this difficult to digest. Furthermore, it feels one could use shallow as the opposite of deep but not vice ...
0
votes
4answers
74 views
Antonym of “response”
Suppose you're on an internet forum. If post Y is a response to post X, then X is a [WHAT] to Y? What's the antonym of "response", here? The word coming to mind is "antecedent", ...
1
vote
0answers
38 views
Is there a positive version of “tempt”? [closed]
The verb "to tempt" refers to enticing or influencing somebody to do something, with strong connotations of that thing being something wrong, something they should not do. But when I think ...
19
votes
9answers
7k views
What is the opposite of 'owe'?
I want to know what is the opposite of 'owe'.
For example,
I owe you $10
If I want to say the opposite I have to reverse it and say,
you owe me $10
But sometimes I feel I should start with 'I' not ...
1
vote
2answers
66 views
Word for exchanging several banknotes of small values, with ONE banknote that is equal to their collective value
When we want to exchange a banknote of a high value (say a $100) with ones lesser in value (say $50 + $20 + $20 + $10), we say: "I want to break this $100".
If you needed to do the opposite, ...
0
votes
0answers
36 views
What would the opposite of “suburb” be?
In North American English, a suburban area, or suburb, is a town or community located near a city which is mainly comprised of the homes of people who work in the city. My question is: what would the ...
1
vote
2answers
60 views
What are some antonyms for salvation? [closed]
I'm writing an essay on how immigrants came to the US in the 1900s for salvation, but instead, they got the opposite. However, I'm looking for a more complex word; it'll sound boring if I just say it ...
1
vote
1answer
41 views
Is factoid an Auto-antonym?
I had thought factoid meant "a brief or trivial item of news or information"
But now I googled the meaning and it says,
In most examples of janus words online the meanings are quite exactly ...
1
vote
6answers
167 views
What's the opposite of “grow up” when used as an interjection?
In casual conversation, one is often told to "Grow up!", ie be more mature and more like an adult. What would be the most accurate phrase to express the opposite sentiment - you need to ...
1
vote
1answer
171 views
What is the opposite of “brute-force”?
In computer science especially, a brute-force algorithm is one that is naive and straightforward. It may succeed but only in a primitive way—trying all the obvious operations one by one. This wastes ...
1
vote
1answer
59 views
Not-quite-opposite of “inherit”, someone from whom you inherit without their mentioning you in a will [closed]
What is the verb for being the non-volitional source of an inheritance? For example:
I "inherit" a car from my parent when they die. My parent "_____" a car to me when they die.
...
1
vote
1answer
48 views
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 ...
0
votes
0answers
64 views
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 ...
1
vote
0answers
87 views
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 ...
0
votes
4answers
94 views
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 ...
1
vote
0answers
57 views
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 ...
0
votes
0answers
17 views
What is the antonym for the phrase “role model”? [duplicate]
"Role Model" is used in a positive light, and thus doesn't fit the sentence below.
Bob saw his incriminated elder brother, and made a ____ out of him.
0
votes
0answers
38 views
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 ...
0
votes
1answer
46 views
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 ...
0
votes
0answers
21 views
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 ...
0
votes
1answer
73 views
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.
0
votes
2answers
60 views
“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 ...
1
vote
2answers
158 views
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 ...
0
votes
0answers
265 views
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 ...
0
votes
3answers
47 views
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 "...
3
votes
2answers
161 views
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 ...
0
votes
2answers
57 views
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 ...
0
votes
1answer
88 views
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 ...
1
vote
0answers
32 views
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"), ...
0
votes
0answers
50 views
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 ...
1
vote
5answers
4k views
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
87 views
Antonym of Abseil
Abseil, or rappel in AmE, means “to descend using a rope”. Is there a word for “ascend using a rope”?
31
votes
17answers
8k views
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 ...
0
votes
1answer
37 views
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?
4
votes
1answer
72 views
“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 ...
0
votes
4answers
306 views
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.
1
vote
1answer
172 views
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.
1
vote
0answers
38 views
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.
...
1
vote
2answers
67 views
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 ...
1
vote
2answers
96 views
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 ...
27
votes
9answers
7k views
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....
0
votes
1answer
787 views
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 ...
0
votes
2answers
393 views
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.
0
votes
1answer
78 views
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', ...
