antithesis

American  

[an-tith-uh-sis] / ænˈtɪθ ə sɪs /

noun

plural

antitheses

1. opposition; contrast.

   the antithesis of right and wrong.

2. the direct opposite (usually followed by of orto ).

   Her behavior was the very antithesis of cowardly.

   Synonyms:

   reverse, opposite

3. Rhetoric.

   1. the placing of a sentence or one of its parts against another to which it is opposed to form a balanced contrast of ideas, as in “Give me liberty or give me death.”

   2. the second sentence or part thus set in opposition, as “or give me death.”

4. Philosophy. Hegelian dialectic

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antithesis British  

/ ænˈtɪθɪsɪs /

noun

1. the exact opposite

2. contrast or opposition

3. rhetoric the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas, phrases, or words so as to produce an effect of balance, such as my words fly up, my thoughts remain below

4. philosophy the second stage in the Hegelian dialectic contradicting the thesis before resolution by the synthesis

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Other Word Forms

• self-antithesis noun

Etymology

Origin of antithesis

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin, from Greek: “opposition,” from anti(ti)thé(nai) “to oppose” + -sis -sis; equivalent to anti- + thesis

Example Sentences

"It's the antithesis of what people know me for," he added.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2026

The Hollywood Heritage Museum, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in December, is, in many ways, the antithesis of the 4-year-old Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2026

Solarpunk is more than just the antithesis of cyberpunk, “Blade Runner” and a devastated environment smothered by technofascism.

From Salon • Dec. 31, 2025

“That is the antithesis of how we invest. We are underweight AI and data-center stocks.”

From MarketWatch • Dec. 29, 2025

“These terrorists are the antithesis of Islam. They’re not Muslim. Violence has no place in religion, and the terrorists are responsible for their own crimes, not the religion and not us.”

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed