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Opposite vs. Contrast — What's the Difference?

Opposite vs. Contrast — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Opposite and Contrast

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Opposite

Placed or located directly across from something else or from each other
Opposite sides of a building.

Contrast

To set in opposition in order to show or emphasize differences
An essay that contrasts city and country life.
Contrasted this computer with inferior models.

Opposite

Facing the other way; moving or tending away from each other
Opposite directions.

Contrast

To show differences when compared
Siblings who contrast sharply in interests and abilities.
A color that contrasted clearly with the dark background.

Opposite

Being the other of two complementary or mutually exclusive things
The opposite sex.
An opposite role to the lead in the play.
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Contrast

(Linguistics) To evince a difference that can distinguish meaning
Voiced and voiceless stops contrast in English but not in Cree.

Opposite

Altogether different, as in nature, quality, or significance
The effect of the medication was opposite to that intended.

Contrast

The act of contrasting; a setting off of dissimilar entities or objects.

Opposite

Sharply contrasting; antithetical
Had opposite views on the subject.

Contrast

The state of being contrasted
Red berries standing in vivid contrast against the snow.

Opposite

Growing in pairs on either side of a stem
Opposite leaves.

Contrast

A difference, especially a strong dissimilarity, between entities or objects compared
The contrast between Northern and Southern speech patterns.

Opposite

Arranged on the same radius as another part, as stamens and petals.

Contrast

One thing that is strikingly dissimilar to another
My new school was a welcome contrast to the one before.

Opposite

One that is opposite or contrary to another.

Contrast

The use of opposing elements, such as colors, forms, or lines, in proximity to produce an intensified effect in a work of art.

Opposite

An opponent or antagonist.

Contrast

The difference in brightness between the light and dark areas of a picture, such as a photograph or video image.

Opposite

An antonym.

Contrast

(Linguistics) A difference between units, especially one that distinguishes meaning.

Opposite

In an opposite position
They sat opposite at the table.

Contrast

(countable) A difference in lightness, brightness and/or hue between two colours that makes them more or less distinguishable.

Opposite

Across from or facing
Parked the car opposite the bank.

Contrast

(uncountable) The degree of this difference.
The red and the orange don't have much contrast between them — I can hardly tell them apart.

Opposite

In a complementary dramatic role to
He played opposite her.

Contrast

(countable) A control on a television, etc, that adjusts the amount of contrast in the images being displayed.

Opposite

Located directly across from something else, or from each other.
She saw him walking on the opposite side of the road.

Contrast

(countable) A difference between two objects, people or concepts.
Israel is a country of many contrasts.

Opposite

(botany) Of leaves and flowers, positioned directly across from each other on a stem.

Contrast

(countable) Something that is opposite of or strikingly different from something else.

Opposite

Facing in the other direction.
They were moving in opposite directions.

Contrast

Antithesis.

Opposite

Of either of two complementary or mutually exclusive things.
He is attracted to the opposite sex.

Contrast

(transitive) To set in opposition in order to show the difference or differences between.

Opposite

Extremely different; inconsistent; contrary; repugnant; antagonistic.

Contrast

(intransitive) To form a contrast.
Foreground and background strongly contrast.

Opposite

Something opposite or contrary to something else.

Contrast

To stand in opposition; to exhibit difference, unlikeness, or opposition of qualities.
The joints which divide the sandstone contrast finely with the divisional planes which separate the basalt into pillars.

Opposite

A person or thing that is entirely different from or the reverse of someone or something else; used to show contrast between two people or two things.
She is the opposite of her ex-boyfriend who abused her both physically and verbally nearly every day for five years. She now works as an advocate and supportive listener for others who have endured abusive relationships.

Contrast

To set in opposition, or over against, in order to show the differences between, or the comparative excellences and defects of; to compare by difference or contrariety of qualities; as, to contrast the present with the past.

Opposite

An opponent.

Contrast

To give greater effect to, as to a figure or other object, by putting it in some relation of opposition to another figure or object.
The figures of the groups must not be all on side . . . but must contrast each other by their several position.

Opposite

An antonym.
"Up" is the opposite of "down".

Contrast

The act of contrasting, or the state of being contrasted; comparison by contrariety of qualities.
Place the prospect of the soulIn sober contrast with reality.

Opposite

(mathematics) An additive inverse.

Contrast

Opposition or dissimilitude of things or qualities; unlikeness, esp. as shown by juxtaposition or comparison.
The contrasts and resemblances of the seasons.

Opposite

In an opposite position.
I was on my seat and she stood opposite.
Where's the bus station? -Over there, just opposite.

Contrast

The opposition of varied forms, colors, etc., which by such juxtaposition more vividly express each other's peculiarities.

Opposite

Facing, or across from.
He lives opposite the pub.

Contrast

The opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared;
In contrast to
By contrast

Opposite

In a complementary role to.
He played opposite Marilyn Monroe.

Contrast

The act of distinguishing by comparing differences

Opposite

(television) On another channel at the same time.
The game show Just Men! aired opposite The Young and the Restless on CBS.

Contrast

A conceptual separation or demarcation;
There is a narrow line between sanity and insanity

Opposite

Placed over against; standing or situated over against or in front; facing; - often with to; as, a house opposite to the Exchange; the concert hall and the state theater stood opposite each other on the plaza.

Contrast

The perceptual effect of the juxtaposition of very different colors

Opposite

Situated on the other end of an imaginary line passing through or near the middle of an intervening space or object; - of one object with respect to another; as, the office is on the opposite side of town; - also used both to describe two objects with respect to each other; as, the stores were on opposite ends of the mall.

Contrast

The range of optical density and tone on a photographic negative or print (or the extent to which adjacent areas on a television screen differ in brightness)

Opposite

Applied to the other of two things which are entirely different; other; as, the opposite sex; the opposite extreme; antonyms have opposite meanings.

Contrast

Put in opposition to show or emphasize differences;
The middle school teacher contrasted her best student's work with that of her weakest student

Opposite

Extremely different; inconsistent; contrary; repugnant; antagonistic.
Novels, by which the reader is misled into another sort of pleasure opposite to that which is designed in an epic poem.
Particles of speech have divers, and sometimes almost opposite, significations.

Contrast

To show differences when compared; be different;
The students contrast considerably in their artistic abilities

Opposite

Set over against each other, but separated by the whole diameter of the stem, as two leaves at the same node.

Opposite

One who opposes; an opponent; an antagonist.
The opposites of this day's strife.

Opposite

That which is opposed or contrary in character or meaning; as, sweetness and its opposite; up is the opposite of down.
The virtuous man meets with more opposites and opponents than any other.

Opposite

Two words that express opposing concepts;
To him the opposite of gay was depressed

Opposite

A relation of direct opposition;
We thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true

Opposite

A contestant that you are matched against

Opposite

Something inverted in sequence or character or effect;
When the direct approach failed he tried the inverse

Opposite

Being directly across from each other; facing;
And I on the opposite shore will be, ready to ride and spread the alarm
We lived on opposite sides of the street
At opposite poles

Opposite

Of leaves etc; growing in pairs on either side of a stem;
Opposite leaves

Opposite

Moving or facing away from each other;
Looking in opposite directions
They went in opposite directions

Opposite

The other one of a complementary pair;
The opposite sex
The two chess kings are set up on squares of opposite colors

Opposite

Altogether different in nature or quality or significance;
The medicine's effect was opposite to that intended
It is said that opposite characters make a union happiest

Opposite

Characterized by opposite extremes; completely opposed;
In diametric contradiction to his claims
Diametrical (or opposite) points of view
Opposite meanings
Extreme and indefensible polar positions

Opposite

Directly facing each other;
The two photographs lay face-to-face on the table
Lived all their lives in houses face-to-face across the street
They sat opposite at the table

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