oppositeness
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op·po·site
(ŏp′ə-zĭt)adj.
1. Placed or located directly across from something else or from each other: opposite sides of a building.
2. Facing the other way; moving or tending away from each other: opposite directions.
3. Being the other of two complementary or mutually exclusive things: the opposite sex; an opposite role to the lead in the play.
4.
a. Altogether different, as in nature, quality, or significance: The effect of the medication was opposite to that intended.
b. Sharply contrasting; antithetical: had opposite views on the subject.
5. Botany
a. Growing in pairs on either side of a stem: opposite leaves.
b. Arranged on the same radius as another part, as stamens and petals.
n.
1. One that is opposite or contrary to another.
2. An opponent or antagonist.
3. An antonym.
adv.
In an opposite position: They sat opposite at the table.
prep.
1. Across from or facing: parked the car opposite the bank.
2. In a complementary dramatic role to: He played opposite her.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin oppositus, past participle of oppōnere, oppose; see oppose.]
op′po·site·ly adv.
op′po·site·ness n.
Synonyms: opposite, contrary, antithetical, contradictory
These adjectives mean marked by a natural or innate and irreconcilable opposition. Two things that are altogether different are opposite: Antonyms are words of opposite meaning."It is said that opposite characters make a union happiest" (Charles Reade).
Contrary stresses extreme divergence: Democrats and Republicans often hold contrary opinions.
Antithetical emphasizes diametrical opposition: engaged in practices entirely antithetical to their professed beliefs.
Contradictory implies denial or inconsistency: "contradictory attributes of unjust justice and loving vindictiveness" (John Morley).
These adjectives mean marked by a natural or innate and irreconcilable opposition. Two things that are altogether different are opposite: Antonyms are words of opposite meaning."It is said that opposite characters make a union happiest" (Charles Reade).
Contrary stresses extreme divergence: Democrats and Republicans often hold contrary opinions.
Antithetical emphasizes diametrical opposition: engaged in practices entirely antithetical to their professed beliefs.
Contradictory implies denial or inconsistency: "contradictory attributes of unjust justice and loving vindictiveness" (John Morley).
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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Noun 1. oppositeness - the relation between opposed entities
relation - an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts together
antipode - direct opposite; "quiet: an antipode to focused busyness"
antithesis - exact opposite; "his theory is the antithesis of mine"
conflict - opposition in a work of drama or fiction between characters or forces (especially an opposition that motivates the development of the plot); "this form of conflict is essential to Mann's writing"
contrast, direct contrast - the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared; "in contrast to", "by contrast"
flip side - a different aspect of something (especially the opposite aspect); "the flip side of your positive qualities sometimes get out of control"; "on the flip side of partnerships he talked about their competition"
mutual opposition, polarity - a relation between two opposite attributes or tendencies; "he viewed it as a balanced polarity between good and evil"
gradable opposition - an opposition that is capable of being graded
polarity, sign - having an indicated pole (as the distinction between positive and negative electric charges); "he got the polarity of the battery reversed"; "charges of opposite sign"
ungradable opposition - an opposition that has no intermediate grade; either one or the other
contradictoriness - the relation that exists when opposites cannot coexist
contradiction - opposition between two conflicting forces or ideas
contrary - exact opposition; "public opinion to the contrary he is not guilty"
contrariety - the relation between contraries
tertium quid - some third thing similar to two opposites but distinct from both
contrary, reverse, opposite - a relation of direct opposition; "we thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true"
inverse, opposite - something inverted in sequence or character or effect; "when the direct approach failed he tried the inverse"
antagonism - the relation between opposing principles or forces or factors; "the inherent antagonism of capitalism and socialism"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.