Types of Antonyms Flashcards

Study Notes

Gradable Antonyms:
- Represent words at opposite ends of a continuous value scale.
- Examples include "good" vs. "bad," "expensive" vs. "cheap," and "beautiful" vs. "ugly."
Complementary/Binary Antonyms:
- Exist in pairs and cover all possible states without overlap.
- If one term is applicable, the other cannot be; for instance, "pass" vs. "fail" and "true" vs. "false."
Converse Terms/Relational Opposites:
- Describe reciprocal relationships, where each term reflects the relationship from an opposite perspective.
- Examples include "parent" and "offspring," "import" and "export," and "host" and "guest."
Multiple Incompatibles/Taxonomic Sisters:
- Consist of systems where meanings are oppositional but differ from previous categories.
- Terms within a system exhibit mutual incompatibility.
Definition of Incompatibility (Multiple Incompatibles):
- All terms in the system cannot coexist simultaneously; each has a distinct meaning.
Coverage of Relevant Area:
- Together, the terms in a system encompass all pertinent components of the category.
Example of Taxonomic Sisters:
- Days of the week can be seen as multiple incompatibles: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc.
General Definition of Antonym:
- An antonym relates two words that differ in both form and meaning.