opposite

1. adjective

1)

the opposite page

Syn:

facing, opposing, reverse

2)

opposite views

Syn:

conflicting, contrasting, incompatible, irreconcilable, antithetical, contradictory, clashing, contrary, at variance, at odds, different, differing, divergent, dissimilar, unalike, disagreeing, opposed, opposing, poles apart, polar

Ant:

similar, same, identical

3)

opposite sides in a war

Syn:

rival, opposing, enemy

Ant:

same

2. preposition

they sit opposite one another

Syn:

facing, face to face with, across from; informal eyeball to eyeball with; archaic fronting

3. noun

the opposite was also true

Syn:

reverse, converse, antithesis, contrary, inverse, obverse, antipode; the other side of the coin; informal flip side

••

opposite; contradictory; antithetical; contrary; reverse

All of these adjectives are usually applied to abstractions and are used to describe ideas, statements, qualities, forces, etc., that are so far apart as to seem irreconcilable. Opposite refers to ideas or things that are symmetrically opposed in position, direction, or character — in other words, that are set against each other in such a way that the contrast or conflict between them is highlighted (they sat opposite one another at the table). Contradictory goes a little further, implying that if one of two opposing statements, propositions, or principles is true, the other must be false (he assured us the fee would be under $500; his partner gave us contradictory information, saying costs could go as high as $800.). Two contradictory elements are mutually exclusive; for example, alive and dead are contradictory terms because logically they cannot be applied to the same thing. Antithetical implies that the two things being contrasted are diametrically opposed — as far apart or as different from each other as is possible (they debated the antithetical theories of creationism and evolution). Contrary adds connotations of conflict or antagonism (the group's discussion was hindered by his contrary remarks). Reverse applies to that which moves or faces in the opposite direction (he scribbled something on the reverse side of her business card).