What are the different types of antonyms?

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What are the different types of antonyms?

There are several different 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 that represent a binary relationship, where one term is 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 pairs that have an inherent relationship or dependency on each other. For instance, parent and child, teacher and student, or borrower and lender.

4. Converse Antonyms: These antonyms are pairs that represent opposite perspectives or roles in a relationship. Examples include buy and sell, lend and borrow, or employer and employee.

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 split apart or to cling together), sanction (to approve or to penalize), or overlook (to supervise or to neglect).

These are some of the different types of antonyms that exist in the English language.