opposite word

USAGE SUMMARY

"opposite word" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it whenever you need to describe a word that has the opposite meaning of another word. For example, "The opposite word of 'bright' is 'dark'."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

In English and Japanese, for example, there are many phrases that look like they have opposite word orders to each other.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Its adjective is orthodox and we often hear its opposite word – unorthodox, meaning unusual.

BBC

And now here's today's top tip for learning vocabulary: when you learn a new word, have a look in the dictionary to see if there is a prefix that will help you make the opposite word.

BBC

Apparently, accomplishing this feat is so rare there isn't even an exact opposite word of to "sin" -- at least in the dictionary I consulted.

Huffington Post

Within our reversal condition, which required responding to the color (red or green) of the opposite word (red or green), there was no effect of genotype on reaction time among patients (F 2,64) = 2.31, p = 0.11)(although the Val/Val patient group's average reaction time was slower than the Val/Met's, consistent with an overall Met advantage), or controls (F 2,183) = 0.7, p = 0.50) (see Figure 2).

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"What are the opposite words I got?" He waited, chalk in hand, in the eternal position of the schoolteacher.

The New Yorker

The Bowery in two inadequate descriptive systems(1974-75), a spiralbound photobook containing images of the decrepit street placed opposite words indicative of drunken homelessness, was a career-defining work.

Stanford University

The test consisted of 16 pairs of opposite adjectives, each pair presented separately, with the opposite words delineating a 155 mm long and 20 mm wide bar, horizontally centred on a 15 in.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Problem encountered-there is no such word and so the untruthfulness of this antonym was sniffed out, even by those who had very little idea what the opposite word-sister had meant in the first place.

Huffington Post

What did she see in these two seemingly opposite words?

Huffington Post

Demi Lovato is so cool, hot, bad, good and other opposite words that mean the same thing in certain contexts.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When teaching vocabulary, use the concept of "opposite word" to help learners expand their understanding and retention by associating words with their antonyms.

Common error

Avoid using "opposite word" when you actually mean a synonym or a word with a similar meaning. "Opposite word" refers specifically to a word with a contrary meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "opposite word" functions as a noun phrase. It identifies a specific type of word based on its semantic relationship to another word. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is commonly used to describe a word that has a contrary meaning to another.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

24%

Science

24%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "opposite word" is a grammatically sound and comprehensible way to refer to a word that has a contrary meaning to another word. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's a valid phrase in written English. While the term "antonym" is a more formal and linguistically precise alternative, "opposite word" is often more accessible for general audiences. This phrase appears in various contexts, with the most frequent being in news, science, and educational content. When using the phrase, ensure that you are referring to a direct opposite in meaning, rather than just a slightly different word. Understanding and utilizing the concept of the "opposite word" can significantly enhance vocabulary acquisition and language comprehension.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

antonym

Focuses specifically on the linguistic term for a word with an opposite meaning.

reverse term

Emphasizes the reversal of meaning rather than just opposition.

contrary term

Highlights the contradictory nature of the meaning.

opposing term

Stresses the act of opposing or countering the original term's meaning.

inverse term

Highlights the inverted or reversed relationship in meaning.

contradictory word

Implies a direct contradiction in the meaning of the original word.

counter term

Suggests that this term works against the meaning of the original word.

foil word

Implies a contrast in meaning, similar to a foil in literature.

negative counterpart

Emphasizes the negative or opposing nature of the word's meaning.

opposite vocabulary

Indicates an item within a set of vocabulary that has the inverse meaning.

FAQs

How can I effectively use the term "opposite word" in a sentence?

Use "opposite word" to clearly indicate that you are referring to a word with a reverse meaning. For example, "The "opposite word" of 'good' is 'bad'."

What's a simple way to explain what an "opposite word" is to someone unfamiliar with the concept?

Explain that an "opposite word", also known as an antonym, is a word that expresses a meaning as nearly as possible the reverse of another word. Examples include hot and cold, or up and down.

Are there any common misunderstandings about what constitutes an "opposite word"?

A common misunderstanding is thinking that any word with a slightly different meaning is an "opposite word". The true "opposite word" should have a meaning that is directly contrary.

Which is correct, saying "opposite word" or "antonym"?

Both "opposite word" and "antonym" are correct, but "antonym" is the more formal linguistic term. "Opposite word" is generally more accessible and understandable in everyday conversation.