antithesis

plural antitheses

1. A proposition that is the diametric opposite of some other proposition.

   On the night of the 2nd of March 2025, your actions were the antithesis of everything Paddington stands for.

   2025 March 25, Daisy Stephens, “Paddington vandals 'antithesis' of bear, says judge”, in BBC

   3 more examples

   For if every condition of everything conditioned (according to its existence) is sensuous, and therefore belongs to the series, that series is again conditioned (as shown in the antithesis of the fourth antinomy).

   1881, Immanuel Kant, translated by F. Max Müller, Critique of Pure Reason, translation of original in German, page 486

   Angela Merkel is the antithesis of nearly every assumption we make about a head of state—especially a German one. She is plain. She is modest. She cares little for presentation or flash. She gives no fiery speeches. She has no interest in expansion or domination. Mostly, she is quiet and reserved.

   2016, Ryan Holiday, Ego is the Enemy, page 144

   Unless one final Schlafly paradox gets in the way. Before she died, the First Lady of the Conservative Movement endorsed Trump. That makes sense: Schlafly was a paleoconservative who was worried about immigration. But Trump has turned out to be the most unchivalrous candidate in living memory, the very antithesis of Schlafly’s ideal Christian standard.

   2016 September 6, Timothy Stanley, “How Phyllis Schlafly gave us Sarah Palin”, in CNN

2. rhetoricA device by which two contrasting ideas are juxtaposed in parallel form; a figure of speech arranged in this manner

   Antithesis, opposing things to things, Oft from the contrast strength and beauty brings.

   1835, L[arret] Langley, “[Rhetorical Figures.] Antithesis.”, in A Manual of the Figures of Rhetoric, […], Doncaster, South Yorkshire: […] C. White, […], →OCLC, page 22

3. human sciencesThe second stage of a dialectical process in which the thesis is negated.