antithetical

[ an-tuh-thet-i-kuhl ]

adjective

1. of the nature of or involving antithesis.
2. directly opposed or contrasted; opposite.

antithetical

/ ˌæntɪˈθɛtɪkəl /

adjective

1. of the nature of antithesis
2. directly contrasted

Other Words From

• anti·theti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of antithetical¹

First recorded in 1575–85; from Greek antithetikós “setting in opposition, contrasting” (from antíthetos “opposed”) + -al; antithesis ( def ), -tic ( def ), -al ¹( def ).

Example Sentences

This is antithetical to the story I’ve been told about Johns Hopkins.

From Washington Post

It’s antithetical to America’s ideas and ideals, and it has fascistic markers.

From Washington Post

I totally get that it’s maybe kind of antithetical to the point I’m trying to make.

From Nautilus

The message they sent was antithetical to the mood of corporate America at the time.

From Fortune

Though few rituals can lay the groundwork for tackling the day like a cup of coffee can, the actual brewing process can often be messy, time consuming, and generally antithetical to easing gently into the day.

From Popular-Science

Yet Anders Gravers is in fact a bona fide xenophobe whose views are antithetical to freedom.

From The Daily Beast

Was Islam antithetical to American ideas of religious freedom and openness of citizenship?

From The Daily Beast

Even the mere thought of calling such a man a patriot profoundly corrupts—is violently antithetical to—the idea of patriotism.

From The Daily Beast

Trying to use it do so is antithetical to the achievement of peace and the two-state solution.

From The Daily Beast

As if to drive their antithetical missions home, the two Newsrooms have virtually opposing styles.

From The Daily Beast

Burkius rightly remarks, that שנא‎ is antithetical to surgere, sedere, dolorum.

From Project Gutenberg

The writer of the letter from Bombay, signed Ormont, was a born subject for the antithetical craftsmen's tricky springes.

From Project Gutenberg

He is a great lover of books and gardening—two antithetical hobbies—which are charming in themselves, and healthily counteractive.

From Project Gutenberg

This also indicates the antithetical positions which the two hold with respect to magic and counter-magic.

From Project Gutenberg

If man was all male principle, and woman all female principle they would not be complementary, but antithetical.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• contradictory