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Definitions from WordNet

Definitions from the Web

Indirect Antonym

Description

An indirect antonym refers to a type of relationship between two words or phrases where they do not have opposite meanings, but their meanings indirectly contrast with each other. Unlike traditional antonyms, indirect antonyms can demonstrate a subtle contrast or provide alternative perspectives.

Examples

Noun:

In the sentence, "The silence in the room was deafening," "silence" and "deafening" can be considered an indirect antonym pair since silence implies a lack of noise, while deafening implies an overwhelming amount of noise.

Adjective:

When comparing "haunting" and "euphoric," although they are not exact opposites, they can be deemed an indirect antonym pair as the emotions they convey are contrasting.

Verb:

An example of an indirect antonym pair in verbs can be found in "to speak" and "to listen." One speaks while the other listens, pointing to a subtle relationship of interacting actions.

Adverb:

"Deliberately" and "spontaneously" serve as an indirect antonym pair, representing contrasting manners or styles of action.

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