What are the different types of antonyms?

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What are the different types of antonyms?

Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. There are several types of antonyms, including:

1. Gradable Antonyms: These antonyms represent opposite ends of a spectrum or scale. For example, hot and cold, big and small, or fast and slow.

2. Complementary Antonyms: These antonyms are pairs of words that represent the two extremes of a concept, where one word implies the absence or negation of the other. Examples include alive and dead, present and absent, or on and off.

3. Relational Antonyms: These antonyms are words that describe a relationship between two entities, where one word implies the opposite of the other. Examples include parent and child, teacher and student, or borrower and lender.

4. Converse Antonyms: These antonyms are pairs of words that describe a relationship from opposite perspectives. For example, buy and sell, lend and borrow, or give and receive.

5. Auto-antonyms: Also known as contronyms or Janus words, these antonyms are words that have contradictory meanings depending on the context. Examples include cleave (to adhere or to split), sanction (to approve or to penalize), or overlook (to supervise or to neglect).

6. Absolute Antonyms: These antonyms are words that have completely opposite meanings, with no intermediate or overlapping meanings. Examples include true and false, right and wrong, or good and bad.

It is important to note that antonyms can vary in their degree of opposition, and some words may have multiple antonyms depending on the context.