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Definitions from the Web

Tentative Antonym

Description:

Tentative Antonym refers to a word or phrase that is used to express the opposite meaning of another word or phrase in a hesitant or provisional manner. It conveys the idea of uncertainty or a lack of firmness in the antonymic relationship.

Senses and Usages:

1. Linguistics:

In the field of linguistics, a tentative antonym is a word or phrase that is provisionally used as an opposite to another word or phrase. The antonymic relationship is not absolute and can vary depending on context or interpretation.

Example Sentence: The word "hot" can be seen as a tentative antonym of "cold" in certain contexts.

2. Conversation:

In everyday conversation, a tentative antonym is used when expressing an opposite meaning without complete certainty. It allows for flexibility and acknowledges that the relationship between the terms may not be fixed.

Example Sentence: "I think he's nice, but I'm not sure if 'nice' is the tentative antonym for 'strict' in this situation."

Possible related products on Amazon:

• Antonym Dictionary
• Thesaurus of Opposite Words
• Linguistics Textbook