What is the difference between an antonym and an opposite? — Tessa , Philippines
Answer
An antonym is a word that is the opposite of another word. An opposite can be the other side of, reverse of, or something contrary to anything, not just words. Below are some examples:
'Hot' is the antonym/opposite of 'cold.'
'Up' is the antonym/opposite of 'down.'
'Happy' is the antonym/opposite of 'sad.'
I asked her to close the door, but she did the opposite: she opened it.
The weather here is the opposite of the weather on the other side of the planet.
We live on opposite coasts; you live on the east coast and I live on the west coast.
They stood on opposite sides of the car.
The front door of my apartment is opposite the lobby.
On the first floor of the hotel you'll find the vending machine opposite the stairwell.
Opposites attract. [=people with very different personalities are often attracted to one another.]
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