diametrically
Britishadverb
Explanation
If one thing is the exact opposite of something else, they're diametrically opposed. Here, diametrically is used to mean "totally" or "completely." Diametrically is an unusual word — it's only used to modify the adjective opposed. When you describe two things that couldn't be more different from each other, you can say they're diametrically opposed. Is your brother a cheerful, optimistic person, while your sister is cranky and gloomy? Then they're diametrically opposed. This word comes from diameter, a line through a circle, in the sense that two points at either end of a diameter are directly opposite each other.
Vocabulary lists containing diametrically
Opposites Attract
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
A Man Called Ove
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Founding Brothers
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“And those three things, in my reading of the Gospel, are diametrically opposed to the teachings of Jesus.”
From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026
Is it possible to prevent an heir from spending their inheritance on things to which we are diametrically opposed?
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 16, 2026
Their opinions may be diametrically opposed but they are held with equivalent zeal.
From BBC ● Jan. 12, 2026
But Donaldson sees these videos as pragmatic; making money and promoting charitable causes, he and his team would argue, are not diametrically opposed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 3, 2026
For a time, the meshing of these two diametrically different styles worked.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
