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Definition of antithesis

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Writers and speechmakers use the traditional pattern known as antithesis for its resounding effect; John Kennedy's famous "ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country" is an example. But antithesis normally means simply "opposite". Thus, war is the antithesis of peace, wealth is the antithesis of poverty, and love is the antithesis of hate. Holding two antithetical ideas in one's head at the same time—for example, that you're the sole master of your fate but also the helpless victim of your terrible upbringing—is so common as to be almost normal.

Examples of antithesis in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'antithesis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Late Latin, from Greek, literally, opposition, from antitithenai to oppose, from anti- + tithenai to set — more at do

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1b(1)

Dictionary Entries Near antithesis

anti-theoretical

Cite this Entry

“Antithesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antithesis. Accessed 16 Aug. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of antithesis, more from merriam-webster on antithesis.

Nglish: Translation of antithesis for Spanish Speakers

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about antithesis

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IPA : ænˈtɪθəsɪs ænˈtɪθəsɪs

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Phonetic spelling of antithesis

an-tith-uh-sis 1 rating rating ratings Brian Robinson An tith a sis 0 rating rating ratings Private an-ti-thesis 0 rating rating ratings Franco Berge an-tith·e-sis 0 rating rating ratings Private an-tithe-sis 0 rating rating ratings Private

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Meanings for antithesis

the juxtaposition of contrasting words or ideas to give a feeling of balance 1 rating rating ratings Sheridan Zieme a person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else. A contrast or opposition between two things. 1 rating rating ratings MELLONA exact opposite 1 rating rating ratings Ross Franecki contrast of ideas by means of parallel arrangement of words or clauses 1 rating rating ratings Keshawn Lynch

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Antonyms for antithesis

epitome 41 ratings rating ratings Israel Metz

Learn more about the word "antithesis" , its origin, alternative forms, and usage from Wiktionary.

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Examples of in a sentence

Antithesis, synthesis? A curious observation may lead to a treatment for MS 64 ratings rating ratings Sarai Carroll At the same time this tendency to make prominent a scheme of external duties has always been counteracted in Christianity by the remembrance of its original antithesis to Jewish legalism. 54 ratings rating ratings Cecile Kuphal Once more, the notion that this indeterminate body contains potentially in itself the fundamental contraries - hot, cold, &c. - by the excretion or evolution of which definite substances were generated, is clearly a forecasting of that antithesis of potentiality and actuality which from Aristotle do 50 ratings rating ratings Diego Beer Later the commoner antithesis is between Ionian and Dorian, first (probably) in the colonial regions of Asia Minor, and later more universally. 45 ratings rating ratings Ardella Hirthe his theory is the antithesis of mine 41 ratings rating ratings Merl Stokes

antithesis should be in sentence

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[ an- tith - uh -sis ]

the antithesis of right and wrong.

Her behavior was the very antithesis of cowardly.

Synonyms: reverse , opposite

  • 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.”
  • the second sentence or part thus set in opposition, as “or give me death.”
  • Philosophy. Hegelian dialectic

/ ænˈtɪθɪsɪs /

  • the exact opposite
  • contrast or opposition
  • rhetoric the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas, phrases, or words so as to produce an effect of balance, such as my words fly up, my thoughts remain below
  • philosophy the second stage in the Hegelian dialectic contradicting the thesis before resolution by the synthesis

Other Words From

  • self-an·tithe·sis noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of antithesis 1

Example Sentences

In the Democratic primary in his home state, he was humiliated by his old antithesis Wallace, who beat him decisively.

It cannot be stressed enough that the behavior of the sitting president is the antithesis of the ideals of American democracy, institutions or peaceful transitions.

American Christians may have chosen cynicism in 2016, but cynicism is the antithesis of the Christian faith, and cynicism won’t have the final word in America, either.

The transhuman cannot exist outside of ubuntu, of course, which is the antithesis of the colonial order for a number of reasons.

Tesla’s being touted as a go-go player in the antithesis of a go-go sector.

Belle Knox is the antithesis of Jenna Jameson—and not just in looks.

To me this is the antithesis of what travel should be about.

Married at First Sight is the antithesis of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.

Yet its sound is the musical antithesis of a blended Frappuccino.

Now Joffrey, the Starks' black-hearted antithesis, has met a similar fate.

If you did fail, you would try Exclusion, and you would find nothing which is the antithesis of the area of New York.

Thus seen, socialism appeared as the very antithesis of law and order, of love and chastity, and of religion itself.

There is, however, but little danger of overdoing the parallel construction where there is no antithesis.

Nor is it to be wondered at, if we consider the antithesis which is presented to their usual mode of life.

He is a sentimental Classicist, and his subjects the antithesis of the Grco-Roman ideal to which he does homage in his technique.

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Definition of antithesis noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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antithesis pronunciation meaning

Antithesis Definition

What is antithesis? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

Antithesis is a figure of speech that juxtaposes two contrasting or opposing ideas, usually within parallel grammatical structures. For instance, Neil Armstrong used antithesis when he stepped onto the surface of the moon in 1969 and said, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." This is an example of antithesis because the two halves of the sentence mirror each other in grammatical structure, while together the two halves emphasize the incredible contrast between the individual experience of taking an ordinary step, and the extraordinary progress that Armstrong's step symbolized for the human race.

Some additional key details about antithesis:

  • Antithesis works best when it is used in conjunction with parallelism (successive phrases that use the same grammatical structure), since the repetition of structure makes the contrast of the content of the phrases as clear as possible.
  • The word "antithesis" has another meaning, which is to describe something as being the opposite of another thing. For example, "love is the antithesis of selfishness." This guide focuses only on antithesis as a literary device.
  • The word antithesis has its origins in the Greek word antithenai , meaning "to oppose." The plural of antithesis is antitheses.

How to Pronounce Antithesis

Here's how to pronounce antithesis: an- tith -uh-sis

Antithesis and Parallelism

Often, but not always, antithesis works in tandem with parallelism . In parallelism, two components of a sentence (or pair of sentences) mirror one another by repeating grammatical elements. The following is a good example of both antithesis and parallelism:

To err is human , to forgive divine .

The two clauses of the sentence are parallel because each starts off with an infinitive verb and ends with an adjective ("human" and "divine"). The mirroring of these elements then works to emphasize the contrast in their content, particularly in the very strong opposite contrast between "human" and "divine."

Antithesis Without Parallelism

In most cases, antitheses involve parallel elements of the sentence—whether a pair of nouns, verbs, adjectives, or other grammar elements. However, it is also possible to have antithesis without such clear cut parallelism. In the Temptations Song "My Girl," the singer uses antithesis when he says:

"When it's cold outside , I've got the month of May ."

Here the sentence is clearly cut into two clauses on either side of the comma, and the contrasting elements are clear enough. However, strictly speaking there isn't true parallelism here because "cold outside" and "month of May" are different types of grammatical structures (an adjective phrase and a noun phrase, respectively).

Antithesis vs. Related Terms

Three literary terms that are often mistakenly used in the place of antithesis are juxtaposition , oxymoron , and foil . Each of these three terms does have to do with establishing a relationship of difference between two ideas or characters in a text, but beyond that there are significant differences between them.

Antithesis vs. Juxtaposition

In juxtaposition , two things or ideas are placed next to one another to draw attention to their differences or similarities. In juxtaposition, the pairing of two ideas is therefore not necessarily done to create a relationship of opposition or contradiction between them, as is the case with antithesis. So, while antithesis could be a type of juxtaposition, juxtaposition is not always antithesis.

Antithesis vs. Oxymoron

In an oxymoron , two seemingly contradictory words are placed together because their unlikely combination reveals a deeper truth. Some examples of oxymorons include:

  • Sweet sorrow
  • Cruel kindness
  • Living dead

The focus of antithesis is opposites rather than contradictions . While the words involved in oxymorons seem like they don't belong together (until you give them deeper thought), the words or ideas of antithesis do feel like they belong together even as they contrast as opposites. Further, antitheses seldom function by placing the two words or ideas right next to one another, so antitheses are usually made up of more than two words (as in, "I'd rather be among the living than among the dead").

Antithesis vs. Foil

Some Internet sources use "antithesis" to describe an author's decision to create two characters in a story that are direct opposites of one another—for instance, the protagonist and antagonist . But the correct term for this kind of opposition is a foil : a person or thing in a work of literature that contrasts with another thing in order to call attention to its qualities. While the sentence "the hare was fast, and the tortoise was slow" is an example of antithesis, if we step back and look at the story as a whole, the better term to describe the relationship between the characters of the tortoise and the hare is "foil," as in, "The character of the hare is a foil of the tortoise."

Antithesis Examples

Antithesis in literature.

Below are examples of antithesis from some of English literature's most acclaimed writers — and a comic book!

Antithesis in Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities

In the famous opening lines of A Tale of Two Cities , Dickens sets out a flowing list of antitheses punctuated by the repetition of the word "it was" at the beginning of each clause (which is itself an example of the figure of speech anaphora ). By building up this list of contrasts, Dickens sets the scene of the French Revolution that will serve as the setting of his tale by emphasizing the division and confusion of the era. The overwhelming accumulation of antitheses is also purposefully overdone; Dickens is using hyperbole to make fun of the "noisiest authorities" of the day and their exaggerated claims. The passage contains many examples of antithesis, each consisting of one pair of contrasting ideas that we've highlighted to make the structure clearer.

It was the best of times , it was the worst of times , it was the age of wisdom , it was the age of foolishness , it was the epoch of belief , it was the epoch of incredulity , it was the season of Light , it was the season of Darkness , it was the spring of hope , it was the winter of despair , we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven , we were all going direct the other way —in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

Antithesis in John Milton's Paradise Lost

In this verse from Paradise Lost , Milton's anti-hero , Satan, claims he's happier as the king of Hell than he could ever have been as a servant in Heaven. He justifies his rebellion against God with this pithy phrase, and the antithesis drives home the double contrast between Hell and Heaven, and between ruling and serving.

Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.

Antithesis in William Shakespeare's Othello

As the plot of Othello nears its climax , the antagonist of the play, Iago, pauses for a moment to acknowledge the significance of what is about to happen. Iago uses antithesis to contrast the two opposite potential outcomes of his villainous plot: either events will transpire in Iago's favor and he will come out on top, or his treachery will be discovered, ruining him.

This is the night That either makes me or fordoes me quite .

In this passage, the simple word "either" functions as a cue for the reader to expect some form of parallelism, because the "either" signals that a contrast between two things is coming.

Antithesis in William Shakespeare's Hamlet

Shakespeare's plays are full of antithesis, and so is Hamlet's most well-known "To be or not to be" soliloquy . This excerpt of the soliloquy is a good example of an antithesis that is not limited to a single word or short phrase. The first instance of antithesis here, where Hamlet announces the guiding question (" to be or not to be ") is followed by an elaboration of each idea ("to be" and "not to be") into metaphors that then form their own antithesis. Both instances of antithesis hinge on an " or " that divides the two contrasting options.

To be or not to be , that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them ...

Antithesis in T.S. Eliot's "Four Quartets"

In this excerpt from his poem "Four Quartets," T.S. Eliot uses antithesis to describe the cycle of life, which is continuously passing from beginning to end, from rise to fall, and from old to new.

In my beginning is my end . In succession Houses rise and fall , crumble, are extended, Are removed, destroyed, restored, or in their place Is an open field, or a factory, or a by-pass. Old stone to new building , old timber to new fires ...

Antithesis in Green Lantern's Oath

Comic book writers know the power of antithesis too! In this catchy oath, Green Lantern uses antithesis to emphasize that his mission to defeat evil will endure no matter the conditions.

In brightest day , in blackest night , No evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might Beware my power—Green lantern's light!

While most instances of antithesis are built around an "or" that signals the contrast between the two parts of the sentence, the Green Lantern oath works a bit differently. It's built around an implied "and" (to be technical, that first line of the oath is an asyndeton that replaces the "and" with a comma), because members of the Green Lantern corps are expressing their willingness to fight evil in all places, even very opposite environments.

Antithesis in Speeches

Many well-known speeches contain examples of antithesis. Speakers use antithesis to drive home the stakes of what they are saying, sometimes by contrasting two distinct visions of the future.

Antithesis in Patrick Henry's Speech to the Second Virginia Convention, 1775

This speech by famous American patriot Patrick Henry includes one of the most memorable and oft-quoted phrases from the era of the American Revolution. Here, Henry uses antithesis to emphasize just how highly he prizes liberty, and how deadly serious he is about his fight to achieve it.

Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take: but as for me, give me liberty or give me death .

Antithesis in Martin Luther King Jr.'s Oberlin Commencement Address

In this speech by one of America's most well-known orators, antithesis allows Martin Luther King Jr. to highlight the contrast between two visions of the future; in the first vision, humans rise above their differences to cooperate with one another, while in the other humanity is doomed by infighting and division.

We must all learn to live together as brothers —or we will all perish together as fools .

Antithesis in Songs

In songs, contrasting two opposite ideas using antithesis can heighten the dramatic tension of a difficult decision, or express the singer's intense emotion—but whatever the context, antithesis is a useful tool for songwriters mainly because opposites are always easy to remember, so lyrics that use antithesis tend to stick in the head.

Antithesis in "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash (1981)

In this song by The Clash, the speaker is caught at a crossroads between two choices, and antithesis serves as the perfect tool to express just how confused and conflicted he is. The rhetorical question —whether to stay or to go—presents two opposing options, and the contrast between his lover's mood from one day (when everything is "fine") to the next (when it's all "black") explains the difficulty of his choice.

One day it's fine and next it's black So if you want me off your back Well, come on and let me know Should I stay or should I go ? Should I stay or should I go now? Should I stay or should I go now? If I go, there will be trouble If I stay it will be double ...

Antithesis in "My Girl" by the Temptations (1965)

In this song, the singer uses a pair of metaphors to describe the feeling of joy that his lover brings him. This joy is expressed through antithesis, since the singer uses the miserable weather of a cloudy, cold day as the setting for the sunshine-filled month of May that "his girl" makes him feel inside, emphasizing the power of his emotions by contrasting them with the bleak weather.

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day When it's cold outside I've got the month of May Well I guess you'd say, What can make me feel this way? My girl, my girl, my girl Talkin' bout my girl.

Why Do Writers Use Antithesis?

Fundamentally, writers of all types use antithesis for its ability to create a clear contrast. This contrast can serve a number of purposes, as shown in the examples above. It can:

  • Present a stark choice between two alternatives.
  • Convey magnitude or range (i.e. "in brightest day, in darkest night" or "from the highest mountain, to the deepest valley").
  • Express strong emotions.
  • Create a relationship of opposition between two separate ideas.
  • Accentuate the qualities and characteristics of one thing by placing it in opposition to another.

Whatever the case, antithesis almost always has the added benefit of making language more memorable to listeners and readers. The use of parallelism and other simple grammatical constructions like "either/or" help to establish opposition between concepts—and opposites have a way of sticking in the memory.

Other Helpful Antithesis Resources

  • The Wikipedia page on Antithesis : A useful summary with associated examples, along with an extensive account of antithesis in the Gospel of Matthew.
  • Sound bites from history : A list of examples of antithesis in famous political speeches from United States history — with audio clips!
  • A blog post on antithesis : This quick rundown of antithesis focuses on a quote you may know from Muhammad Ali's philosophy of boxing: "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee."

The printed PDF version of the LitCharts literary term guide on Antithesis

  • Climax (Figure of Speech)
  • Figure of Speech
  • Juxtaposition
  • Parallelism
  • Protagonist
  • Rhetorical Question
  • Climax (Plot)
  • Flat Character
  • Tragic Hero
  • Dynamic Character
  • Round Character
  • Formal Verse
  • Stream of Consciousness
  • Falling Action

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/ænˈtɪθəsəs/, /ænˈtɪθɪsɪs/.

Other forms: antitheses

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." There, the thesis , or main idea put forward in an argument, is countered with its opposite idea — the antithesis — and the two are finally reconciled in a third proposition, the synthesis . An antithesis wouldn't exist without a thesis because it works as a comparison.

  • noun exact opposite “his theory is the antithesis of mine” see more see less type of: oppositeness , opposition the relation between opposed entities
  • noun the juxtaposition of contrasting words or ideas to give a feeling of balance see more see less type of: rhetorical device a use of language that creates a literary effect (but often without regard for literal significance)

Vocabulary lists containing antithesis

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Learn these words beginning with the prefix anti , meaning "against," "in opposition to," or "opposite of." Want to increase your prefix power? Learn our complete set of Power Prefix lists: anti- , con- , dis- , ex- , fore- , inter- , mis- , pre- , pro- , sub- , super- , trans- , uni-

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Definition of Antithesis

Examples of antithesis in everyday speech, common examples of antithesis from famous speeches, examples of proverbs featuring antithesis, utilizing antithesis in writing, antithesis and parallelism, antithesis and juxtaposition, use of antithesis in sentences  , examples of antithesis in literature.

Antithesis is an effective literary device and figure of speech in which a writer intentionally juxtaposes two contrasting ideas or entities. Antithesis is typically achieved through parallel structure, in which opposing concepts or elements are paired in adjacent phrases , clauses , or sentences. This draws the reader’s attention to the significance or importance of the agents being contrasted, thereby adding a memorable and meaningful quality to the literary work.

Example 1:  Hamlet (William Shakespeare)

Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice ; Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment.

Example 2:  Paradise Lost  (John Milton)

Here at least We shall be free; the Almighty hath not built Here for his envy, will not drive us hence: Here we may reign secure, and in my choice To reign is worth ambition though in Hell: Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven.

Example 3:  Fire and Ice  (Robert Frost)

Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice.

In his poem, Frost utilizes antithesis to contrast fire and ice as elements with devastating and catastrophic potential to end the world. Frost effectively demonstrates the equal powers for the destruction of these elements, despite showcasing them as opposing forces. In this case, the poet’s antithesis has a literal as well as figurative interpretation. As the poem indicates, the world could literally end in the fire as well as ice. However, fire and ice are contrasting symbols in the poem as well. Fire represents “desire,” most likely in the form of greed, the corruption of power, domination, and control. Conversely, ice represents “hate” in the form of prejudice, oppression, neglect, and isolation.

Example 4: The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln

We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives so that nation might live.
The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.
The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.

Function of Antithesis

Synonyms of antithesis, post navigation.

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antithesis noun

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What does the noun antithesis mean?

There are nine meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun antithesis , two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

antithesis has developed meanings and uses in subjects including

How common is the noun antithesis ?

How is the noun antithesis pronounced?

British english, u.s. english, where does the noun antithesis come from.

Earliest known use

Middle English

The earliest known use of the noun antithesis is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).

OED's earliest evidence for antithesis is from around 1450.

antithesis is a borrowing from Latin.

Etymons: Latin antithesis .

Nearby entries

  • anti-terror, adj. 1882–
  • anti-terrorism, n. 1844–
  • anti-terrorist, n. & adj. 1797–
  • antitetanic, adj. & n. 1875–
  • antithalian, adj. 1818–
  • anti-theft, adj. 1834–
  • anti-theft movement, n. 1872–
  • anti-theism, n. 1788–
  • anti-theist, n. & adj. 1627–
  • anti-theistic, adj. 1817–
  • antithesis, n. c1450–
  • antithesism, n. 1816–1919
  • antithesistic, adj. 1796–
  • antithesize, v. 1790–
  • antithesizer, n. 1808–1915
  • antithet, n. & adj. 1656–
  • antithetic, adj. & n. 1610–
  • antithetical, adj. 1582–
  • antithetically, adv. 1594–
  • antitheton, n. 1550–
  • anti-tobacconal, n. 1862–63

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Meaning & use

Pronunciation, compounds & derived words, entry history for antithesis, n..

antithesis, n. was revised in September 2023.

antithesis, n. was last modified in June 2024.

oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include:

  • further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
  • new senses, phrases, and quotations.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into antithesis, n. in June 2024.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1885)

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Antithesis Definition & Examples in Speech and Literature

Antithesis does not have to be a difficult thing to understand, despite its complicated name, it is a relatively simple form on English grammar which can be easily explained. We are going to take a look at what antithesis is and how it is to be used. We will look at various examples of antithesis in both written and spoken language to further assist us to understand it.

Antithesis Definition

Antithesis is, in fact, a word from ancient Greek that directly translates as ‘ opposite .’ When we talk about antithesis in the English language we are referring to a phrase that contains two contrasting ideas. Antithesis is used to express opposing ideas in a more vivid fashion in order that it has more of an impact on the person listening to or reading the language.

Antithesis in Figures of Speech

Antithesis used in figures of speech might sound something like the famous phrase made by Neil Armstrong on his moon landing, he said: “that’s one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind.” The small step and giant step are the antitheses because they are the direct opposite of one another and yet contrast in the sentence.

Antithesis in Rhetorical Devices

Antithesis in rhetoric, when two opposite statements are juxtaposed to create a contrasting notion, can be seen in the speech made by Martin Luther King, in the sentence “ I hope that one day my children will be judged not by their skin colour but by their character. ” When used in a rhetorical device , antithesis is designed to paint a picture of the concept.

Antithesis in Figurative Language

Antithesis can be used in figurative language , a good example of this is the phrase “ man proposes, God disposes. ” The two ideas are completely opposite to each other and yet when put in a sentence together create a contrasting idea.

Antithesis in a Literary Device

When used as a literary device , antithesis is designed to be used to sway the opinion of the reader or listener through the statement itself. An example of this comes once again from Martin Luther King when he said: “ we must learn to come together as brethren or perish together as fools. ” In this context, the antithesis is being used to point out the bad thing and highlight the good thing.

Antithesis Examples

Examples of antithesis in speech.

There will be many occasions when you are likely to hear antithesis during everyday conversations. We will now take a look at some examples of sentences in which antithesis is present.

  • Give all men your ear, but few men your voice.
  • Love is an ideal thing but marriage is a real thing.
  • Speech is silver but silence is golden .
  • Patience is bitter but it bears sweet fruit.
  • Money is the root of all evil, poverty is the fruit of all goodness.
  • She is easy on the eyes but hard on the heart.
  • Everybody doesn’t like something but nobody doesn’t like this.
  • Integrity without knowledge is frail and has no use and knowledge without integrity is risky and awful.
  • People who have no vices also have not many virtues.
  • Burning a fire to stay cool.
  • Shutting a door in order to leave.
  • Even though the sun shines, I can feel the rain.
  • It is never too late but it is never too soon.

Examples of Antithesis in Literature

Many authors have used antithesis in their work in order to provide the reader with a thought-provoking, contrasting statement. We are now going to take a look at some examples of times when writers have used antithesis within poetry, fiction and other types of written work.

  • A tale of two cities by Charles Dickens opens with the use of antithesis in the line “ Twas the very best in times, Twas the very worst in times. That was a time of wisdom and yet a time of foolishness. ” In this example, antithesis is used to imply the conflict of the time in which the story was set.
  • “ To err is human, to forgive is divine, ” This is a line from the play Julius Caesar written by William Shakespeare. Here antithesis is used to refer to the fact that God the creator is forgiving yet he created a race of humans who were far from perfect.
  • In the poem ‘community’ written by John Donne, we see the use of antithesis to compare love and hate. “ Good we must love and must hate ill. “
  • Paradise lost written by John Milton features the use of antithesis when it compares the opposing ideas of heaven and hell alongside the opposing ideas of serving and reigning , in the sentence: “ It is better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven. “
  • In the Holy Bible, we see the use of antithesis in the book of Matthew, where we can read the line “ many are called but few are chosen .”
  • “ Give me a bit of sunshine, give me a bit of rain. ” This is an example of antithesis from the song Give me some sunshine by Swanand Kirkire. The notion of wanting sunshine is completely opposite to the idea of wanting rain and yet both are contained within the same sentence.
  • In the song “My girl” by the band The Temptations we see antithesis being used in the line “ When it is cold outside, I have got the month of May .”
  • “ In my beginning is my end .” This is an example of the use of antithesis within the poem Four Quartets which was written by T S Elliot.
  • In the comic book featuring the character Green Lantern, an oath is written and the first line of this oath contains antithesis. “ In the brightest of days and in the blackest of nights .”

As we have seen, antithesis can be used in various ways in order to compare and contrast two opposing ideas. It can be used in a variety of ways depending on how it is being used, whether that be in the rhetorical, as a literary device or in a figure of speech.

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Meaning of antithesis in English

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  • antithetical
  • anything but idiom
  • diametrical
  • dichotomist
  • dichotomous
  • or otherwise idiom
  • poles apart idiom

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

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noun as in exact opposite

Strong matches

  • contradictory

Weak matches

noun as in contrast, opposition

  • contradiction
  • contradistinction
  • contrariety
  • contraposition

Example Sentences

In the Democratic primary in his home state, he was humiliated by his old antithesis Wallace, who beat him decisively.

It cannot be stressed enough that the behavior of the sitting president is the antithesis of the ideals of American democracy, institutions or peaceful transitions.

American Christians may have chosen cynicism in 2016, but cynicism is the antithesis of the Christian faith, and cynicism won’t have the final word in America, either.

The transhuman cannot exist outside of ubuntu, of course, which is the antithesis of the colonial order for a number of reasons.

Tesla’s being touted as a go-go player in the antithesis of a go-go sector.

Belle Knox is the antithesis of Jenna Jameson—and not just in looks.

To me this is the antithesis of what travel should be about.

Married at First Sight is the antithesis of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.

Yet its sound is the musical antithesis of a blended Frappuccino.

Now Joffrey, the Starks' black-hearted antithesis, has met a similar fate.

If you did fail, you would try Exclusion, and you would find nothing which is the antithesis of the area of New York.

Thus seen, socialism appeared as the very antithesis of law and order, of love and chastity, and of religion itself.

There is, however, but little danger of overdoing the parallel construction where there is no antithesis.

Nor is it to be wondered at, if we consider the antithesis which is presented to their usual mode of life.

He is a sentimental Classicist, and his subjects the antithesis of the Grco-Roman ideal to which he does homage in his technique.

Related Words

Words related to antithesis are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word antithesis . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

noun as in causing problem; opposition

  • competition
  • disagreement
  • incongruity

noun as in opposite

noun as in equilibrium

  • correspondence
  • counterbalance
  • equivalence
  • even-steven

noun as in opposition

  • contrariness
  • oppositeness

Viewing 5 / 26 related words

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

What Trump Is Doing When He Mispronounces “Kamala”

Kamala Harris

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a “difficult” name.

I use quotation marks because, of course, my name has never been difficult to me . And it’s never been difficult to my parents, who are responsible for my name in the first place.

No—I learned that my name was difficult gradually, over time. That framework developed quite early on, dating back to my interactions with other people in my predominantly white hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska. Many of my clearest memories from childhood and adolescence involve someone, somewhere, struggling with my name in some manner.

There were the various teachers taking attendance at the top of class, pausing with palpable discomfort when landing on my foreign name, perplexed and unsure how to proceed.

“Is this, um, Muh-KAI-tah? MAH-ket-ahh?”

Maybe they’d keep trying in vain, all while actively apologizing for “butchering” my name. I often imagined them taking a meat cleaver and whacking away at the fleshy parts—the tender M , the ripe vowels, the tough K at its heart, which anchors the whole thing.

“It’s Mee-KEY-tah,” I’d eventually explain, first defensively, then assertively. They would continue to mispronounce and misspell my name anyway.

And that phenomenon never really stopped. Today, I confront near-constant errors in daily life, whether it’s incorrectly typed at the top of emails (my name is in my email address) or scrawled by a barista along the side of a coffee cup (I spelled my name out, loudly and clearly).

Some may find name misspellings and mispronunciations relatively inconsequential. But as a multiracial woman born in the United States to immigrant parents from two different cultures, I know there’s nothing inconsequential about it.

Our names quite literally identify us. In many ways, they legitimize us because they are our primary markers of identity. We lead with our names and everything else comes after.

For immigrants and multiracial individuals in particular, our names—both given and inherited—are often a crucial entry point into our tapestry-like histories. These are beautifully woven, impossibly intricate histories that we have few other connections to. Our name is both a thread and a lifeline. Our name is where our story begins. And it deserves respect and reverence.

That means intentionally and repeatedly refusing to say one’s name correctly—regardless of how “difficult” it may be wrongly perceived—is a direct assault on that person’s very legitimacy and right to take up just as much space as anyone with an Anglicized or Westernized name. Willfully complicating the name’s pronunciation or questioning its ethnic origins—as happened during Barack Obama’s presidency and Donald Trump’s ongoing obsession with the birtherism lie —is a calculated tactic rooted in blatant bigotry.

We are witnessing such an assault on cultural identity take place in the wake of Kamala Harris’s entry into the 2024 presidential race. Naming something (or someone) gives it (or them) power. Not naming, therefore, does the opposite. Each time Trump and his supporters refuse to say Harris’s name correctly, it’s an intentional undercutting of her right to exist wholly and authentically. She is the American-born , Black child of Indian and Jamaican immigrants who also happens to be an educated, experienced woman running for the nation’s highest office.

Her multidimensionality is beyond Trump’s comprehension. And it’s driving him even madder than he already is.

One summer not long after graduating college, I worked a part-time job serving cocktails at a luxury resort in Tucson, Arizona. At the time, I barely made enough in tips to cover my essential monthly expenses: rent, car payment, student loans. On one occasion, a patron, eyeing my name tag, asked, “Where are you from?” I answered as I always did—and, for the record, still do—by saying, “Nebraska.”

He ordered another drink and then proceeded to rattle off a list of countries, including Japan, Russia, and others I can no longer recall. It quickly became evident that he felt entitled to this information about me and my racial identity. He needed to be able to neatly classify me into whatever preconceived categories he had in his head. Not being able to do so made him less powerful, less in control. And men who don’t feel in control are unpredictable at best and dangerous at worst.

The Trump cult has clear issues with capable, intelligent, in-control women. So their poor plan of attack involves dismissing her credentials, relegating her to “ DEI hire ,” and critiquing nearly every aspect of who she is, from her Blackness to how she laughs to—yes, even her name. They mock and feign ignorance about its proper pronunciation at rallies and in television interviews. It’s a pathetic attempt at not just minimizing her name, but also minimizing her rapidly growing political power and influence.

And they know exactly what they’re doing.

I appreciate and value my unique name, and have come to accept a few truths. For one, my name automatically signals a sense of otherness. My name means I immediately stick out. My name means I will inevitably be subjected to a line of questioning that I can only characterize as a cultural inquisition: “How do you spell that? What does it mean? Where are you from? Why are you here?”

Soft Toys Are Everywhere At Copenhagen Fashion Week. Vogue Investigates

When your name is constantly called into question, it can feel like you’re forever having to prove your right to simply be . Compound that with classism, racism, sexism, and every other -ism in the dictionary and, well, navigating one’s identity as a multiracial woman in 21st century America morphs into a marathon with endless hurdles and no finish line.

The world tried to convince me that my name was difficult, complicated, foreign, strange. And when that’s the message you continually receive, it’s as exhausting as it is confusing. There’s pressure to perform and conform, all at the same time. For Harris, that looks like others policing how she embodies her Blackness and multiracial identity, while simultaneously expecting her—and her name—to fit nicely into the categorizations they deem acceptable or palatable.

Balancing along the tightrope of multiracial identity in America is an imperfect, ongoing effort. There’s a deep desire to belong despite being born to stand out. But thankfully, our names—rich and ripe with meaning and purpose—anchor us to the past while providing a platform of possibility for the future.

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Dennis allen disconcertingly being unable to define metaphors is another clear sign to fade the saints, share this article.

Independent of any new context, I will freely admit I did not have high expectations for the New Orleans Saints this fall. They are firmly one of my least watchable teams in the NFL in 2024 because there is very little fun, exciting, or novel about a group quarterbacked by the uninspiring Derek Carr and coached by Dennis Allen.

Somehow, though, I feel even worse about the Saints this season after listening to Allen try and fail to describe what a metaphor is during a recent press conference.

Seriously, that is so elementary that I would have a pit in my stomach if I were a New Orleans fan hearing quintessential Football Guy Allen ask a clarifying question about something most people are probably taught in middle school.

0-17 pic.twitter.com/ljclvfSagK — The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) August 14, 2024

For reference, a metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two things that aren’t really similar. In the Saints’ 2024 context, it’s like saying their chances of attaining success this season are equivalent to someone extinguishing a raging dumpster fire rolling down the street—it’s just not likely.

You get the idea.

I didn’t like the Saints to do anything of note before this exchange. I somehow like them even less now. Oddsmakers with BetMGM seem to agree:

The Falcons have the best quarterback in the NFC South, Kirk Cousins, and just traded for star pass-rusher Matthew Judon to bolster their biggest defensive weakness. Again, the Saints have the uninspiring Derek Carr — the clear third-best quarterback in his division — and Allen, the guy who may or may not flunked out of a rudimentary English class or two.

Take the Falcons to win the South and run. Fade the Saints now, and you should probably not pay attention to them again until Carr and Allen are both gone.

Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.

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Morning Rundown: Matthew Perry's final weeks, concern over Social Security number leak, and Harris focuses on cutting costs

Inside the rift that could define the future of Pennsylvania politics

A side by side of Josh Shapiro and John Fetterman

John Fetterman was angry.

The Democratic senator from Pennsylvania was readying to speak at a disaster response press conference in Bucks County on July 16, 2023, just hours after flooding in Upper Makefield that ultimately killed seven people. Local officials spoke for a few minutes to offer an initial update for the assembled press. Then, Gov. Josh Shapiro provided information on what his administration was doing to respond to the emergency.

After a few minutes, Shapiro tossed the microphone back to the local responders — not Fetterman. Moments later, the event wrapped without Fetterman ever speaking.

Already deeply skeptical of Shapiro, Fetterman swore off appearing at events alongside the governor going forward, as three sources familiar with the incident told NBC News. 

Fetterman went “through four or five rounds of prep on the run of show for that,” one source said. “And [Shapiro] just sidestepped it completely. After that, John [said]: ‘If there’s an event where he’s going to be there, I don’t want to do it.’”

A person familiar with the event said the idea Shapiro intentionally sidestepped Fetterman was "inaccurate."

"When it came to providing updates in the face of this emergency, local officials were leading the response and determined the run of show," this person said.

The episode highlighted what has become an increasingly volatile relationship between Pennsylvania’s two most ambitious elected officials. It’s a Democratic Party rivalry that is suddenly spilling out into full view and has the potential to shape state politics — and maybe even the national political scene — for years to come.

Earlier this month, as Vice President Kamala Harris was wrapping up her search for a running mate and was considering Shapiro among her final choices, Politico reported that Fetterman aides told Harris’ team the senator had concerns about Shapiro . Days later, Fetterman sat stone-faced with his arms crossed as Shapiro delivered a rousing speech at the Philadelphia rally where Harris introduced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her No. 2. Seated among a delegation of Pennsylvania politicians right in front of the press section, the 6-foot-8 Fetterman stood out as a lone member who did not join in the clapping and cheering for Shapiro.

“For most PA politicos, it’s pretty well known that the two clashed,” one Pennsylvania Democrat said. “It was obvious that those two were always on the collision course and the only thing that kept them apart was that they were going for different types of offices.”

“It almost feels like our dirty laundry is being let out to air,” this person added.

The news conference incident last year is also not the first example of Fetterman withdrawing from events with other officials over a perceived slight, according to two people with direct knowledge of another episode. In the early days of the pandemic, Fetterman, then Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor, participated in a daily staff call with top officials in then-Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration. After days of raising criticisms about how Wolf’s staff was handling state-controlled liquor stores and flagging tweets suggesting the administration was falling short in its coronavirus response, Wolf told Fetterman to essentially chill out. Fetterman stopped appearing on the calls afterward, both people said.

NBC News spoke with 12 people familiar with the Fetterman-Shapiro relationship from different perspectives, most of whom were granted anonymity to speak candidly about a sensitive matter featuring two powerful figures. In Pennsylvania, no two elected officials have seen their fortunes improve or their national prominence grow more in the Donald Trump era, rising from a county commission and a small-town mayorship on opposite sides of the state to become the commonwealth’s most recognizable political heavyweights, just as Pennsylvania has become the biggest swing state on the map.

'Like oil and water'

Both are seen to harbor future presidential ambitions, while carving out unique paths to the top of the state’s pecking order. For Fetterman , he ran a failed 2016 Senate bid as an acolyte of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., garnering national attention for his persona and appearance, before winning a campaign for lieutenant governor championing marijuana legalization and criminal justice reform and then capturing a Senate seat in 2022 after a campaign in which he suffered a stroke and was off the trail for months. 

Shapiro’s rise was more methodical, serving as a congressional staffer, state representative, county commissioner and state attorney general before winning the governorship . Along the way, he outran other Democrats who shared the ballot with him and generated headlines for battling Trump’s effort to overturn the 2020 election in Pennsylvania and for his probe of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.

“It’s like oil and water,” a person familiar with the relationship said. “They are very different people. Western PA versus Eastern PA. Buttoned-up and slick versus hoodies and I shoot the s--- whenever I want to.”

Fetterman and his allies have pointed to a dispute when both served on the state’s Board of Pardons as the origin of their falling-out. As lieutenant governor, Fetterman’s role on the board was one of the biggest parts of his job, and he viewed his work there as some of the most important in his career. He and Shapiro, who was state AG at the time, differed on some pardon recommendations, and at one point, Fetterman made what was seen as a threat to run against Shapiro for governor in 2022.

Wolf, who led the state at the time, had to intervene in the dispute after Fetterman “kind of forced a meeting,” a person with direct knowledge of the matter said. This person said that Shapiro felt he had incomplete information on the cases Fetterman wanted him to support and that Fetterman pressed repeatedly for the pardons to be approved.

Multiple people said the feud appears to be much more about Fetterman training his ire at Shapiro than the other way around, particularly as the senator has taken public steps — like sitting while Shapiro spoke at the rally and talking about their dispute on the state pardons board — to express his displeasure while Shapiro has not. Two unconnected Pennsylvania Democrats separately compared the ordeal to a popular meme from the hit TV show “Mad Men,” in which one person standing in an elevator criticizes Don Draper, the series’ main character, who responds, “I don’t think about you at all.”

“I don’t think Josh has a rivalry with Fetterman,” said Larry Ceisler, a Democratic public affairs executive in Pennsylvania and longtime observer of both men. “I think Fetterman has an obsession with Josh.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised, just like any politician, that John Fetterman thinks he can run for president one day,” Ceisler added. “So he probably thinks Josh is a potential rival. … I’ve never heard Josh speak dismissively or negatively about Fetterman. Never.”

Still, some said the feud runs both ways, adding the pardons episode is just a small piece of the fuller picture.

“This is just two guys who hate each other,” a second person familiar with the relationship said. “It’s an old-school political rivalry. It’s not anything even deeper than that, it’s just an old-school, interstate political rivalry between two up-and-coming guys who both want to be president.”

“They have just a very personal animosity,” the first person familiar with the relationship said. “And it goes both ways, not just a one-way street.”

'It really sucks'

At the Harris-Walz rally in Philadelphia last week, Fetterman’s visible displeasure with Shapiro during his speech was noticeable to those seated near him, one person in his vicinity said. Shapiro drew loud applause as he said he would “pour my heart and soul into serving you every single day as your governor” and would work “to make sure we make Kamala Harris and Tim Walz the next leaders of the United States of America.” 

The person who described the Fetterman-Shapiro relationship as “like oil and water” said they worried Fetterman’s unenthusiastic response would make it appear he was not stoked for Harris’ campaign, which was not true.

“You’ve got a crowd of 12,000 people screaming their lungs out for Josh Shapiro, and John’s going to make a statement there,” this person said.

Speaking on MSNBC one day after the rally , Fetterman said in response to questions about the Politico story that he “never directed” his aides to advise Harris’ team of his concerns about Shapiro, and he said his dispute with the governor was centered on their time on the state Board of Pardons.

“I just don’t understand why we’re talking about a choice that was already made,” he said, trying to move past the storyline after Walz’s selection, adding, “[W]hy are we talking about this weird stuff?”

Pressed that same day on the subject, Shapiro told reporters : “I have never played small ball. I am not going to start now.”

Reached for comment for this article, Shapiro’s office directed NBC News to those public comments the governor made last week. Fetterman’s office declined to comment on the relationship between the two men.

Some Democrats who spoke with NBC News expressed concerns that the beef could impede the state party’s efforts in the general election, though others said this would not make a discernible difference for the top of the ticket.

“We’re all committed to electing Kamala Harris as president of the United States along with Governor Walz as her vice president,” state Sen. Sharif Street, chair of the state Democratic Party, said, adding, “Look, I think Senator Fetterman is a man who speaks his mind, and he’ll continue to do that. And I’ll tell you, I think he’s going to play a big part in making sure that Vice President Harris and Governor Walz are president and vice president.”

Both men have sought to build their brands among elected officials in the state. Since his election as governor, Shapiro's in-state popularity — his poll numbers have eclipsed Fetterman’s, multiple surveys show — and his campaigning in key down-ballot races have won him goodwill among elected officials in the state. Fetterman, armed with a substantial campaign email list, has sought to boost other Pennsylvania Democrats by taking an active role in fundraising for them.

Then there was Shapiro’s rise to national prominence as part of the Democratic veepstakes.

“There’s a different version of this reality where [Fetterman] could have been in the conversation to be a running mate for Kamala Harris,” said the person who described Fetterman and Shapiro as akin to “oil and water.”

The two men haven’t always been at odds. As The Associated Press reported in 2022, Fetterman hosted a 2016 fundraiser for Shapiro at his home in Braddock. When they shared a statewide ticket two years ago, they linked up for a coordinated effort backed by national Democratic campaign organizations. But in the final days of the 2022 campaign, the duo made few appearances together.

“I’ve never even seen them talk to each other,” said state Rep. Dan Miller, a Democrat from Fetterman’s home county, adding that he couldn’t speak to their relationship as a result.

Democratic insiders also expressed little hope that the relationship could be improved, which they said would benefit the rest of the party in Pennsylvania.

“It would be really nice if this wasn’t a problem,” a Democratic strategist in Pennsylvania said. “It just sucks. It really sucks.”

Shapiro and Fetterman have almost never appeared at the same event since that July 2023 press conference, which was led by local officials. Shapiro spoke because his administration was involved in the state response.

During his remarks that day , Shapiro said the moment “calls on all of us to come together.” He also thanked Fetterman for being present.

When the news conference ended, Shapiro passed Fetterman on his way out of the room. The two appeared to pause for a brief exchange. Then they went their separate ways.

antithesis pronunciation meaning

Allan Smith is a political reporter for NBC News.

No, Tim Walz did not sign bill including pedophilia as 'sexual orientation' | Fact check

The claim: tim walz signed a bill redefining ‘sexual orientation’ to include pedophiles.

An Aug. 7 Facebook post ( direct link , archive link ) includes an image of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz surrounded by children. 

“Democrat VP Candidate Tim Walz Signed a Bill Redefining the Term ‘Sexual Orientation’ to INCLUDE PEDOPHILES,” reads the start of the post.

It was shared more than 200 times in less than a week. Another version of the claim spread widely on X, formerly Twitter . 

More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page

Our rating: False

The bill Walz signed into legislation does no such thing. The state's definition of sexual orientation does not include pedophilia.

Legislative change cuts reference to pedophilia

Minnesota Rep. Leigh Finke , a member of the state's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, introduced HF1655 , also known as the Take Pride Act, in February 2023 . The bill aimed to update the state's Human Rights Act to protect against LGBTQ+ discrimination and included a proposal to modernize the state's definition of sexual orientation.

The bill proposed removing the following line from the definition: “’Sexual orientation’ does not include a physical or sexual attachment to children by an adult.”

That proposed removal, to sever any perceived link between sexual orientation and pedophilia, led to mischaracterizations that the bill intended to give discrimination protection to pedophiles.

Though HF1655 was never voted on as a standalone bill, some of its language was later folded into the Omnibus Judiciary and Public Safety appropriations bill, which Finke told USA TODAY is a “very common process for bills in Minnesota legislature.”

Walz signed the bill into law on May 19, 2023 , dropping the "does not include..." reference to pedophilia that had been in place since 1993 .

The state's statutory definition of sexual orientation now reads:

"'Sexual orientation' me

But changing the definition doesn't somehow mean pedophiles are now protected from discrimination or legal repercussions.

Michael Boucai , a professor at the University at Buffalo School of Law who has done research on sexuality and law, told USA TODAY in 2023 that sexual orientation has never been legally interpreted to include pedophilia.

"I’m unaware of any antidiscrimination law – ever – whose reference to 'sexual orientation' was intended by legislators or has been interpreted by courts to encompass pedophilia," he previously told USA TODAY.

Finke also said at the time that social media posts were mischaracterizing her bill.

"Nothing in the bill changes or weakens any crimes against children, or the state's ability to prosecute those who break the law," Finke said in 2023. "Of course, pedophilia is not a sexual orientation – which is why the language never should have been included in the statutory definition in the first place."

Fact check : GOP critics say Tim Walz 'let Minnesota burn' in 2020 protests. Here's what happened

USA TODAY previously debunked a false claim that an image shows a Fox Business graphic about Walz's "communist agenda" and that Peggy Flanagan replaced Walz as Minnesota’s governor after he became Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate.

USA TODAY reached out to users who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

AFP , Check Your Fact and Snopes also debunked the claim.  

Our fact-check sources:

  • Leigh Finke , Aug. 12, Email exchange with USA TODAY  
  • Minnesota Legislature, accessed Aug. 12, S.F. No. 2909  
  • Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, accessed Aug. 12, Minnesota Statutes 2023
  • USA TODAY, May 10, 2023, Posts misinterpret Minnesota bill that redefines sexual orientation | Fact check  
  • Minnesota Legislature, March 13, 2023, HF 1655  

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USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta .

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antithesis pronunciation meaning

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  1. Pronunciation of Antithesis

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  2. Antithesis Definition & Examples in Speech and Literature • 7ESL

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  3. Antithesis meaning sentence and pronunciation

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    antithesis: [noun] the direct opposite. the rhetorical contrast of ideas by means of parallel arrangements of words, clauses, or sentences (as in "action, not words" or "they promised freedom and provided slavery"). opposition, contrast. the second of two opposing words, clauses, or sentences that are being rhetorically contrasted.

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    Pronunciation of antithesis with 2 audio pronunciations. 70 ratings. -12 rating. International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) IPA : ænˈtɪθəsɪs ænˈtɪθəsɪs. Record the pronunciation of this word in your own voice and play it to listen to how you have pronounced it. Can you pronounce this word better.

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    Pronunciations of 'antithesis'. American English: æntɪθəsɪs British English: æntɪθəsɪs. Word forms plural antitheses (æntɪθəsiz ) Example sentences including 'antithesis'. The little black dress is the antithesis of fussy dressing. New from Collins.

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    Definition of antithesis noun in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

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    This video shows you How to Pronounce Antithesis (antithetical), pronunciation guide.Learn how to say PROBLEMATIC WORDS better: https://www.youtube.com/watch...

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    Phonetic spelling: ænˈtɪθəsɪs. Accent: British. antithesis pronunciation. Pronunciation by TopQuark (Male from United Kingdom) Follow. 4 votes Good Bad. Add to favorites. Download MP3.

  12. Antithesis: Definition and Examples

    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. Antithesis (pronounced an-TITH-eh-sis) is used to emphasize a concept, idea, or conclusion. II. Examples of Antithesis.

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    The word "antithesis" has another meaning, which is to describe something as being the opposite of another thing. For example, "love is the antithesis of selfishness." This guide focuses only on antithesis as a literary device. The word antithesis has its origins in the Greek word antithenai, meaning "to oppose." The plural of antithesis is ...

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    4 meanings: 1. the exact opposite 2. contrast or opposition 3. rhetoric the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas, phrases, or.... Click for more definitions.

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    antithesis: 1 n exact opposite "his theory is the antithesis of mine" Type of: oppositeness , opposition the relation between opposed entities n the juxtaposition of contrasting words or ideas to give a feeling of balance Type of: rhetorical device a use of language that creates a literary effect (but often without regard for literal significance)

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    Definition of Antithesis. Antithesis is a literary device that refers to the juxtaposition of two opposing elements through the parallel grammatical structure. The word antithesis, meaning absolute opposite, is derived from Greek for "setting opposite," indicating when something or someone is in direct contrast or the obverse of another thing or person.

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    Antithesis (pl.: antitheses; Greek for "setting opposite", from ἀντι-"against" and θέσις "placing") is used in writing or speech either as a proposition that contrasts with or reverses some previously mentioned proposition, or when two opposites are introduced together for contrasting effect. [1] [2]Antithesis can be defined as "a figure of speech involving a seeming contradiction of ...

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    Antithesis (pronounced an-TITH-uh-sis) deals in opposites. The Merriam-Webster definition of antithesis is "the direct opposite," and in Greek the meaning is "setting opposite.". As a tool for writing, antithesis creates a juxtaposition of qualities using a parallel grammatical structure. In other words, it's setting opposites next to ...

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    What does the noun antithesis mean? There are nine meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun antithesis, two of which are labelled obsolete. See 'Meaning & use' for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. antithesis has developed meanings and uses in subjects including. grammar (Middle English) rhetoric (early 1500s) philosophy (late ...

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    Examples of Antithesis in Speech. There will be many occasions when you are likely to hear antithesis during everyday conversations. We will now take a look at some examples of sentences in which antithesis is present. Give all men your ear, but few men your voice. Love is an ideal thing but marriage is a real thing.

  21. ANTITHESIS

    ANTITHESIS meaning: 1. the exact opposite: 2. a difference or opposition between two things: 3. the exact opposite: . Learn more.

  22. Antithesis Definition & Meaning

    1. : the exact opposite of something or someone. poverty and its antithesis [= opposite ], wealth. — often + of. She is the antithesis of a politician. [=her character is the opposite of a politician's] His lifestyle is the antithesis of healthy living. 2. : the state of two things that are directly opposite to each other — often + of or ...

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  24. Stochastic Modeling: Definition, Advantage, and Who Uses It

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    Willfully complicating the name's pronunciation or questioning its ethnic origins—as happened during Barack Obama's presidency and Donald Trump's ongoing obsession with the birtherism lie ...

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    Dennis Allen struggling to define metaphors is the Saints' canary in the coal mine.

  27. Inside the rift that could define the future of Pennsylvania politics

    A dispute between Sen. John Fetterman and Gov. Josh Shapiro spilled into the open during Kamala Harris' VP search. It could roil state and Democratic politics for years.

  28. False claim about Walz bill on sexual orientation, pedophilia

    The state's statutory definition of sexual orientation now reads: "'Sexual orientation' me But changing the definition doesn't somehow mean pedophiles are now protected from discrimination or ...

  29. Judge clarifies: Yes, Trump was found to have raped E. Jean Carroll

    What the jury found Donald Trump did to E. Jean Carroll was in fact rape, as commonly understood, even if it didn't fit New York law's narrow definition, says Judge Lewis A. Kaplan.

  30. U.S. final rule amends ITAR definition

    The U.S. Department of State today released a final rule amending the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to include two new entries to expand the definition of activities that are not considered exports, reexports, retransfers, or temporary imports.. Taking U.S. defense articles outside a previously approved country by foreign armed forces or United Nations military personnel ...