Antonyms: Opposites Attract (in Language!)
What are antonyms?
Antonyms are words that have opposite or nearly opposite meanings. They are like two sides of a coin, or day and night.
Why use antonyms?
- Contrast: Antonyms help us show differences between things.
- Clarity: They can make our meaning clearer and more precise.
- Variety: They add interest to our writing and speech.
Examples of Antonyms
| Word | Antonym |
|---|---|
| hot | cold |
| happy | sad |
| big | small |
| start | finish |
| black | white |
| up | down |
| fast | slow |
| good | bad |
| love | hate |
| inside | outside |
| rich | poor |
| strong | weak |
| beautiful | ugly |
Using Antonyms in Sentences
- The soup is hot, but the ice cream is cold.
- He is a tall man, but his wife is short.
- The test was easy, but the homework was difficult.
Let’s Practice!
-
Match the Antonyms: Match each word with its opposite.
- open (closed)
- full (empty)
- quiet (loud)
- right (wrong)
- rich (poor)
-
Fill in the Blanks: Choose the correct antonym to complete each sentence.
- The day started out sunny, but it turned ________ in the afternoon. (cloudy)
- She is a very ________ driver, but her brother is ________. (slow, fast)
- The first question was easy, but the second one was ________. (hard)
Challenge!
Write a paragraph about two very different people. Use antonyms to describe their personalities, appearances, and lifestyles.
Remember: Antonyms are everywhere! Pay attention to how they’re used in books, movies, and conversations. The more antonyms you know, the richer your vocabulary will be!
