antonymy

noun

Pronunciation: /ænˈtɒnɪmi/

Definition

The semantic relationship between words that have opposite meanings.

Examples

• The study of antonymy helps students understand how vocabulary is structured through binary oppositions.

• Gradable antonymy allows for intermediate states, such as 'warm' existing between 'hot' and 'cold'.

• Teachers often use antonymy to help learners expand their vocabulary by pairing new words with their opposites.

Synonyms of antonymy

Words with a similar meaning to antonymy:

• opposition
• contrast
• inversion
• enantiosemy

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