English is filled with words that have opposites meanings. Today, we’re going to take a look at more than 100 of them! This can be a helpful tool when learning English, or when you simply need to describe something in a contradictory way.
What are the Opposite Words?
Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. For example, the antonyms of “hot” are “cold” and “lukewarm.” Antonyms can be used to express a variety of concepts, including opposites, gradations, and refugees. The antonym of “rabbit” is “turtle,” and the antonym of “safe” is “dangerous.” In addition, there are many words that have multiple antonyms, such as “bark,” which can be either “rough” or “smooth.” As you can see, antonyms are a versatile tool for writers and speakers. By using antonyms, you can more precisely communicate your meaning to your audience.
List of Opposite Words

Descendant | Ancestor |
Start | Finish |
Accidental | Intentional |
Abundance | Lack |
Die | Live |
Warm | Cool |
Attack | Defense |
Right | Left |
Amateur | Professional |
Now | Then |
Bottom | Top |
Ending | Beginning |
Outskirts | Centre |
Angel | Devil |
Comedy | Drama |
Connect | Separate |
Admit | Deny |
True | False |
Cold | Heat |
Whisper | Scream |
Ordinary | Special |
Soul | Body |
Drama | Comedy |
Cheap | Dear |
Calm | Excited |
Poor | Rich |
Ascend | Descend |
Silly | Intelligent |
Sink | Rise |
Clever | Stupid |
Handsome | Ugly |
Moderate | Extreme |
BadLuck | Good Luck |
Hell | Heaven |
Lower | Raise |
Large | Small |
Pretty | Ugly |
Fortune | Bad Luck |
Cheap | Expensive |
Hilly | Flat |
Background | Foreground |
Vacant | Occupied |
Question | Answer |
Awake | Asleep |
Rear | Front |
Flat | Hilly |
Guest | Host |
Well | Ill |
Little | Big |
Late | Early |
Friend | Enemy |
Noisy | Quiet |
Sharp | Blunt |
Attic | Cellar |
Stupid | Clever |
Night | Day |
Horizontal | Vertical |
Light | Heavy |
Animal | Human |
Complicated | Simple |
Stop | Start |
Hunger | Thirst |
Amuse | Bore |
Shelter | Exposure |
Melt | Freeze |
Much | Little |
Add | Subtract |
Protection | Attack |
Interrupt | Continue |
Immigrate | Emigrate |
Everything | Nothing |
Present | Past |
Vowel | Consonant |
Light | Dark |
Advanced | Elementary |
Junior | Senior |
Brother | Sister |
Gentle | Violent |
Health | Disease |
Married | Divorced |
Hard | Easy |
Wealth | Poverty |
Certainly | Probably |
Forget | Remember |
Presence | Absence |
Like | Hate |
Exclude | Include |
Busy | Lazy |
Minor | Major |
Alive | Dead |
Ancient | Modern |
Whole | Part |
Wealthy | Poor |
Pupil | Teacher |
Deny | Admit |
Leave | Arrive |
Sunny | Cloudy |
Dusk | Dawn |
Captivity | Freedom |
Subtract | Add |
High | Deep |
Healthy | Ill |
Compliment | Insult |
Private | Public |
Alike | Different |
Boring | Exciting |
First | Final |
Lead | Follow |
Regret | Satisfaction |
Lazy | Active |
Exactly | Approximately |
Lend | Borrow |
Scatter | Collect |
Useful | Useless |
Wedding | Divorce |
Prudent | Imprudent |
Early | Late |
Servant | Master |
Occupied | Vacant |
Intentional | Accidental |
Defend | Attack |
Live | Die |
Ill | Healthy |
North | South |
In Front Of | Back |
Courage | Cowardice |
Export | Import |
Lofty | Lowly |
Body | Soul |
Floor | Ceiling |
Simple | Complicated |
Correct | Incorrect |
Affirmative | Negative |
Lie | Stand |
Careful | Careless |
Wet | Dry |
Past | Future |
Stand | Lie |
Master | Servant |
Ask | Answer |
Include | Exclude |
Strict | Gentle |
Generous | Mean |
Huge | Tiny |
Courage | Fear |
Permit | Forbid |
Continue | Interrupt |
Stranger | Native |
Opponent | Supporter |
Bore | Amuse |
Modern | Ancient |
Good | Bad |
Remember | Forget |
Possible | Impossible |
Unity | Division |
Special | General |
Out | In |
Hit | Miss |
Mountain | Valley |
Finish | Begin |
Hasten | Dawdle |
Particular | General |
Cruel | Human |
General | Particular |
Import | Export |
Behind | In Front Of |
Cry | Laugh |
Valley | Mountain |
Moon | Sun |
Refuse | Agree |
Grown-Up | Child |
Cloudy | Clear |
Let | Forbid |
Advance | Retreat |
For | Against |
Different | Alike |
Nobody | Everybody |
Active | Lazy |
Borrow | Lend |
Attack | Defense |
Difficult | Easy |
Success | Failure |
Emigration | Immigration |
Sorrow | Joy |
Construction | Destruction |
Morning | Evening |
Catch | Miss |
Useless | Useful |
Shout | Whisper |
Careless | Careful |
Outside | Inside |
Freeze | Melt |
Intelligent | Silly |
Land | Take Off |
Answer | Ask |
Marry | Divorce |
Boy | Girl |
Humble | Proud |
Funny | Serious |