opposite of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "opposite of" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate something that is completely different or contrary to another thing. For example, "The opposite of hot is cold." Alternative expressions include "antonym of" and "contrary to."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The opposite of here.

The New York Times

Opposite of Ludlow Street.

The New Yorker

The opposite of racism.

Independent

"It's the opposite of catering".

The New York Times

It's the opposite of stuffy.

The New York Times - Books

It's the opposite of that".

The New York Times

It's the opposite of fussy".

The New York Times

He's the opposite of Trump".

The New Yorker

Well, the opposite of course.

The New York Times

"It's completely opposite of that".

The New Yorker

It's the opposite of dynamic.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with a noun or a noun phrase to create a clear relational link.

Common error

While both are used, "opposite of" is generally preferred when identifying a specific counterpart (e.g., "the opposite of hot"), whereas "opposite to" often describes physical position or orientation (e.g., "the house opposite to the park"). Avoid using them interchangeably in strictly formal writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "opposite of" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase used to indicate a relation of total contrast or inversion. According to Ludwig AI, it acts as a bridge between two nouns where the second noun represents the inverse state, quality or identity of the first. It is most frequently used as a predicative expression following a linking verb.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "opposite of" is an essential tool in the English language for expressing contrast and inversion. Linguistic data from Ludwig indicates that it is a highly reliable and grammatically correct expression used across the most prestigious English-language publications. Whether you are defining a word, describing a personality trait or explaining a scientific phenomenon, "opposite of" provides a clear and direct way to highlight a relationship of difference. While synonyms like "antonym of" or antithesis of offer more technical specificity, "opposite of" remains the most versatile and widely understood choice for writers of all levels.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

polar opposite of

adds emphasis to show that two things are as far apart as possible

antonym of

strictly refers to word meanings rather than concepts or physical states

diametric opposite of

a highly formal way to describe a complete and total contrast

reverse of

emphasizes a change in direction, order or procedure

inverse of

commonly used in mathematical, technical or scientific contexts

antithesis of

carries a stronger rhetorical or philosophical weight, often used for direct ideological contrasts

contrary to

functions more as an adverbial or prepositional contrast, often starting a sentence

contradiction of

implies that one thing makes the other impossible or logically false

negation of

used in logic or mathematics to indicate the denial of a proposition

converse of

specifically refers to a reversed relationship or statement in formal logic

FAQs

What can I say instead of "opposite of"?

You can use alternatives like ""antonym of"", "antithesis of" or "reverse of" depending on whether you are talking about words, ideas or physical directions.

Is it "opposite of" or "opposite to"?

Both are grammatically correct. However, "opposite of" is more common for abstract concepts and meanings, while "opposite to" is frequently used to describe physical locations.

How do I use "opposite of" in a sentence?

You can use it to define a contrast, such as: "His behavior was the "opposite of" what we expected." It usually follows the verb "to be" and precedes the noun it contrasts with.

What is the "opposite of" "opposite of"?

The conceptual inverse would be "synonym of" if referring to words, or "equivalent to" and "same as" for general concepts.