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What's the word for when two words are opposite in meaning?
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antonym (opens in new tab) /ˈæntənɪm/
An antonym is a word with the opposite meaning of another word. It is the best match for your idea of two words that mean opposites.
Other words that fit
Use this in simple everyday speech, but it is less exact than antonym.
Use this when you want a more formal word for an opposite meaning.
Use this for statements or ideas that cannot both be true, not just opposite words.
Why this word
Antonym is the standard English word for a word that means the opposite of another word. For example, “hot” and “cold” are antonyms. People also say “opposite words” in casual speech, but antonym is the dictionary term. Do not confuse it with synonym, which means a word with the same or similar meaning.
In context
- “Hot” is an antonym of “cold.”
- “Begin” and “end” are antonyms.
- What is the antonym of “easy”?
Other concepts to find a word for
Frequently asked questions
- Is antonym a noun or an adjective?
- It is usually a noun. You say, “Cold is an antonym of hot.”
- What is the opposite of synonym?
- The opposite is antonym.
- Can two phrases also be antonyms?
- Yes. Whole phrases can have opposite meanings, not only single words.