The reciprocal antonyms They are words that have opposite or contrary meanings and that have the particularity that the existence of one of the terms implies the existence of the other. For example: give / receive. For someone to give, another person has to receive and vice versa.
types of antonyms
Antonyms are two words that have opposite meanings and that, when classified according to meaning, can be:
- complementary antonyms. One term excludes the other. For example: Living Dead.
- gradual antonyms. They are opposite terms, but there are other terms between them that show graduation. For example: gigantic / tiny.
- reciprocal antonyms. The existence of one term implies the existence of the other. For example: delivery reception.
Characteristics of reciprocal antonyms
- They must belong to the same class of words.
- They have a difference in meaning (not a total opposition).
- They have an inverse relationship, that is, one term is the inverse of the other.
Examples of Reciprocal Antonyms
Word
Its reciprocal antonym is…
accelerate slow down loosen tighten grab release host guest lower raise good bad yield take collect pay buy sell debtor creditor sleep wake owner tenant find lose teach learn delivery receive deliver receive slave master winner loser import export immigrate migrate offer demand employer worker powerful weak reconcile fight answer question leave enter sit get up take deliver seller buyer return leave
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