antithesis definition
Antithesis is a rhetorical term for the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases or clauses. Plural: antitheses. Adjective: antithetical. In grammatical terms, antithetical statements are parallel structures. Antithesis Definition. Antithesis, literal meaning opposite, is a rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect. An antithesis is the complete opposite of something. Though the counterculture was strong in America in 1968, voters elected Richard Nixon, the antithesis of a hippie. The noun antithesis comes from a Greek root meaning opposition and set against.. It's often used today when describing two ideas or terms that are placed in strong contrast to each other. We might come across antithesis in school if we learn about the Hegelian dialectic.. Rhetoric. 1  the placing of a sentence or one of its parts against another to which it is opposed to form a balanced contrast of ideas, as in “Give me liberty or give me death.”. 2  the second sentence or part thus set in opposition, as “or give me death.”. Antithesis emphasizes the idea of contrast by parallel structures of the contrasted phrases or clauses, i.e. the structures of phrases and clauses are similar in order to draw the attention of the listeners or readers. › the exact opposite, or opposition: [ C ] The relaxed company management is the antithesis of a formal bureaucracy. › literature In formal argument, the antithesis is the opposite of the thesis (= the main idea). (Definition of “antithesis” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press) I. What is an Antithesis? “Antithesis” literally means “opposite” – it is usually the opposite of a statement, concept, or idea. In literary analysis, an antithesis is a pair of statements or images in which the one reverses the other. The pair is written with similar grammatical structures to show more contrast. opposition; contrast: the antithesis of right and wrong. 2. the direct opposite (usually followed by of or to): Her behavior was the very antithesis of cowardly. 3. Rhetoric. An antithesis is the complete opposite of something. Though the counterculture was strong in America in 1968, voters elected Richard Nixon, the antithesis of a hippie. It's often used today when describing two ideas or terms that are placed in strong contrast to each other. Definition of Antithesis. Antithesis is the use of contrasting concepts, words, or sentences within parallel grammatical structures. This combination of a balanced structure with opposite ideas serves to highlight the contrast between them.
It means “opposite”.