What is Antithesis and How to Use it? (+ Easy Examples!)

• Nov 22, 2024
• 5 min read

• Tags: Fiction, Fiction Writing, Language

Ever seen a seesaw? It goes up and down, right? Antithesis is like that! It uses opposites like “up” and “down”. 

By using such opposites, antithesis makes words sound more fun. Antithesis is used in both speaking and writing (you’ll learn how through interesting examples). 

So let’s start with a simple definition of antithesis! 

What is antithesis? 

Antithesis is using two words that have opposite meanings in the same sentence. This figure of speech is used in poems, books, movies, riddles, jokes, etc. 

Using antithesis, you can show how two things are different. Let’s see some simple examples of antithesis to learn more! 

I love eating ice cream and she hates eating ice cream. 

John likes to watch movies in the dark, but Michael dislikes watching movies without light. 

May was tall and thin, while Amy was short and fat. 

How to use antithesis while writing and speaking

To use antithesis in writing, first, find two opposite ideas. Then, use them in the same sentence. Here are some useful tips for using antithesis: 

1. Make it sound the same 

Use the same parts of speech to show how two ideas are different. For example, two adjectives that are opposites or two nouns that are opposites. 

For example, My puppy is small, but my cat is HUGE. Here, “small” and “huge” are opposites, so, this is an antithesis. 

2. Show a big difference 

Make sure the opposites are REALLY different, not just a little bit. For example, She was happy at first, but then she felt unhappy.” 

3. Don’t use it too much 

Only use opposites when they help make your words sound better. Don’t use them all the time. (It can get boring sometimes!) 

4. Don’t make it confusing 

The opposites should be easy enough to understand. For example, in the sentence, “The weather was nice, but it was a bit chilly”, it’s difficult to understand which two words are opposites (nice and chilly are not exact opposites). Don’t write such an example of antithesis. 

5. Use parallel structure 

Since antithesis often uses parallel structure, let’s learn what it is by looking at the parts of the sentence “I like chocolates and he hates chocolates.” 

Part 1 – (I like chocolates) (“I” is a pronoun, “like” is the verb, “chocolates” is a noun) 

Part 2– (he hates chocolates) (In this sentence, “he” is the pronoun, “hates” is the verb, and “chocolates” is the noun) 

Did you see how both parts of the sentence have the same sentence structure: pronoun-verb-noun? This is known as a parallel structure. These two sentences are connected by “and”, which is a conjunction. 

You can write antithesis by using parallel structure by following these steps: 

• • • Divide the sentence into two or more parts. 
    • Make sure that the parts of the sentence have the same order of nouns, verbs, and other parts of speech. 
    • Use the same parts of speech for opposite ideas. For example, two opposite nouns (e.g., day and night) or two adjectives (e.g. good and bad). 

Note: While using a parallel structure improves the antithesis, it isn’t compulsory to use the parallel structure for an antithesis. 

When to use antithesis? 

Antithesis can be used to create fun metaphors and similes while speaking or writing stories! For example, “My best friend is a ray of sunshine when I need help, but also a thunderstorm when we fight!” (metaphor).

In contrast, a fun simile is: “My brother is usually as quiet as a mouse, but is as loud as a rock concert when he’s excited.” 

You can also use antithesis for the following reasons: 

1. To make things stand out:  Example– Stupid in English but extremely smart in science

2. To show different sides: Example – A man who is unkind to kids but is kind to animals 

3. To be super memorable: Example – A tall giant with extremely short hair

4. To sound really smart: Example – Happy smiles are upside-down rainbows that help sad people. 

5. To explain things better: Example – Trying something new can seem hard like climbing a mountain at first, but it gets easier with practice. 

6. To show you’re right about something: Example – Studying helps you pass exams and not studying can make you fail or get fewer marks. John studied hard and passed and Amy didn’t study and failed the test. 

Antithesis can be used while writing personal essays, short stories, short messages on greeting cards, speeches during class presentations, etc. 

Interesting examples of antithesis in literature 

The following are simple and short examples of antithesis: 

1. The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid – L. Frank Baum, The Wizard of Oz 

2. It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like ‘What about lunch?’ – A.A. Milne, Winnie The Pooh 

3. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times — Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

Antithesis in Poetry 

The following are some simple examples of antithesis in poetry: 

1. The Big Little Song 

A whale is big, an ant is little, 

Big, little, big, little, clap clap clap. 

A watermelon’s big, a cherry is little,

Big, little, big, little, clap clap clap. 

2. I am Light and Dark – Lara Hughes 

I am made of both light and dark

Sunshine mixed with the moon and stars 

3. Easy Come Easy Go – Maria Sudibyo 

Life is a golden book

It is not enough just read once

First, we cry, laugh, and cry again

Easy to come, easy to go

Antithesis in speech  

1. It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt. – Mark Twain 

2. Hope for the best, plan for the worst – Lee Child 

3. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that – Martin Luther King Jr. 

Bonus section: Additional examples of antithesis 

These are simple examples of how antithesis can be used in essays, taglines, riddles, class presentations, speeches, and common subjects. 

1. Essay: Summer days are long and bright, while winter nights are short and dark. 

2. Tagline: Small steps, big dreams 

3. Riddle: What has an eye, but cannot see? Answer- A needle. 

4. Class presentations: While science is a difficult subject, we’ll make it easier with this example. 

5. Speech: Failure and success: These are two sides of the same coin. 

6. Common subjects: This includes talking about the weather, movies, difficult tasks, or other people. For example, 

It’s cold outside but warm inside. (Weather) 

She speaks a lot with friends but is shy with strangers. (Describing a person) 

I found the work hard at first, but Jane, the class-topper found it easy. (Difficult task) 

Martha found the movie boring but John loved the movie (Discussing a movie)

These examples show how antithesis can make words sound more interesting. You can write and use such examples of antithesis while speaking and writing. 

Whatever you write (poems, stories, assignments, or anything else), it’s important to check it before submitting. This helps to remove any spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes. 

You can also opt for PaperTrue’s assistance with this task. Our professional editing and proofreading services can help you eliminate all errors. 

Curious to learn more about our services? Understand our packages and pricing from the website and opt to get a free sample today! 

Here are some useful resources for you: 

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