What is an antonym?

What is an antonym?

• A. A word that has the same meaning as another word.
• B. A word that means the opposite of another word.
• C. A word that is spelled the same as another word.
• D. A word that is a variant of another word.

Answer: (B)

An antonym is defined as a word that means the opposite of another word. This means that if you take a word, such as "hot," the antonym would be "cold," as these two words represent opposing concepts. Understanding antonyms is crucial for vocabulary development and enhances one’s ability to express ideas more precisely by offering contrasting terms. This concept is widely used in literature, communication, and language learning, as it helps establish clearer meanings and distinctions in the use of language. The other choices describe different linguistic concepts: one refers to synonyms, which are words with similar meanings; another relates to homographs, words that are spelled the same but have different meanings; while the last describes variations of words that do not pertain to oppositeness in meaning. Thus, the correct interpretation of an antonym aligns with the definition provided in the choice identified.

An antonym is defined as a word that means the opposite of another word. This means that if you take a word, such as "hot," the antonym would be "cold," as these two words represent opposing concepts. Understanding antonyms is crucial for vocabulary development and enhances one’s ability to express ideas more precisely by offering contrasting terms. This concept is widely used in literature, communication, and language learning, as it helps establish clearer meanings and distinctions in the use of language.

The other choices describe different linguistic concepts: one refers to synonyms, which are words with similar meanings; another relates to homographs, words that are spelled the same but have different meanings; while the last describes variations of words that do not pertain to oppositeness in meaning. Thus, the correct interpretation of an antonym aligns with the definition provided in the choice identified.