What Is Antithesis? | Definition, Examples & Meaning

Antithesis is placing two contrasting ideas within a balanced structure, as in “Go big or go home.” By setting opposing elements side by side, antithesis highlights key differences between them and creates rhythmic statements that stick in our minds. Antithesis is common in writing and speaking, where it is often used to explain and emphasize complicated concepts.

Antithesis examples
“That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”—Neil Armstrong

“My only love sprung from my only hate.”—Romeo and Juliet (Act 1, scene 5) by William Shakespeare

“Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven.”—Paradise Lost by John Milton

What is an antithesis?

Antithesis is a literary device, but it is also a term used outside the context of literature. In its general sense, the word “antithesis” is used to describe something that is the direct opposite of something else. For example, “love” is the antithesis of “hate.”

As a rhetorical device, antithesis places opposite terms or ideas in grammatically similar phrases or clauses, called parallel structure or parallelism.The contrast between them creates emphasis, while the parallel structure lends musicality and balance to the sentence.

The primary purpose of an antithesis is to create a clear distinction between opposing concepts, enhancing the overall argument or theme. Neil Armstrong’s quote is so memorable because he juxtaposes his individual experience (simply taking a step) to the symbolic dimension of his feat for humanity as a whole (a giant leap).

Antithesis vs juxtaposition

In British English, juxtaposition always describes a contrast. In American English, antithesis is a specific form of juxtaposition, which is a broader term. The two are different in the following ways:

  • Antithesis typically involves polar opposites like night and day or heaven and hell, and its purpose is to highlight this stark difference. It also uses parallelism, where the contrasting ideas are expressed in similar grammatical forms.
  • Juxtaposition, on the other hand, involves placing two things, ideas, or characters next to one another to draw attention to their relationship and reveal deeper meanings. This could be a relationship of opposition (like in antithesis) or similarity. Unlike antithesis, juxtaposition does not necessarily involve a specific grammatical structure.

In short, antithesis is a type of juxtaposition involving two complete opposites, but juxtaposition is not always antithesis.

Antithesis vs oxymoron

On a surface level, antithesis and oxymoron may seem similar as they both employ contrasting ideas. However, they differ in their structure and purpose.

  • An oxymoron combines two contradictory or opposing terms in the same phrase, as in “deafening silence” or “sweet sorrow.” Although this may seem illogical at first, oxymorons produce new, thought-provoking meanings.
  • Antithesis, on the other hand, conveys two opposing concepts in the same sentence, but not as a single phrase. The focus of antithesis is to emphasize differences between opposites and create a memorable impact. The phrase “To err is human; to forgive, divine” is a great example of antithesis because it pairs contrasting ideas (err/forgive, human/divine) in the same parallel structure.

In other words, while both oxymoron and antithesis deal with contrasts, antithesis presents opposing ideas in the same sentence, whereas oxymoron combines contradictory terms in the same phrase.

Antithesis examples

Here are some famous examples of antithesis, showcasing how this rhetorical device emphasizes contrasts to convey profound ideas, inspire reflection, or highlight moral truths.

Antithesis examples
Example Explanation
“The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.” —Abraham Lincoln, The Gettysburg Address Lincoln uses antithesis to contrast the permanence of actions (namely sacrifices made by soldiers) with the transience of words.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech King contrasts external appearance with inner virtue to emphasize the injustice of racial prejudice.
“… a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; …”—Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (King James Version) In this passage from the Bible, antithesis highlights the cyclical and contrasting nature of human life.

Frequently asked questions about antithesis

What is an example of antithesis?

The opening lines from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens contain an example of antithesis: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.” The use of contrasting opposites sets the tone of the novel which takes place during the turbulent period of the French Revolution. Additionally, the parallel structure adds rhythm to the text.

How do you use antithesis in a sentence?

An example of antithesis in a sentence is “War is the very antithesis of peace,” meaning war is the opposite of peace.

What is a synonym for antithesis?

Synonyms for “antithesis” include “contrast,” “opposite,” “contradiction,” and “antipode.” These terms all convey the idea of opposition or difference, though their usage may vary slightly depending on the context. For example, “contrast” emphasizes comparison, while “contradiction” suggests incompatibility between ideas.

What is an antonym for antithesis?

Antonyms for “antithesis” include words that suggest sameness, including “similarity,” “agreement,” and “congruity.” In the context of philosophy, an antonym might be “synthesis” which implies a blending of ideas rather than their contrast.

What is thesis antithesis synthesis?

The triad thesis antithesis synthesis is a philosophical framework often used to describe the thought of German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, although Hegel never used the term himself; he triad was actually developed earlier by Johann Fichte.

The thesis introduces a point or proposition.
The antithesis contradicts it; it is a reaction to the proposition.
The synthesis resolves the conflict between the two by integrating elements from both sides into a new proposition.

This progression of ideas leads to a higher level of understanding or insight.

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Kassiani Nikolopoulou, MSc

Kassiani has an academic background in Communication, Bioeconomy and Circular Economy. As a former journalist she enjoys turning complex information into easily accessible articles to help others.