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Glite Dictionary
➖ A canceling term 🔄 An opposite word
counterterm

counterterm

7.9
A word that shows the opposite of another word
  • noun
  • /ˈkaʊntərˌtɜrm/
translation icon : contrario
  • In logic, 'false' is the counterterm to 'true'.

Examples

  • The counterterm to love is hate.

  • The teacher asked for a counterterm to balance the argument.

  • Every positive statement in mathematics often has a counterterm representing its negation.

  • What is the counterterm for success?

  • In logic, 'false' is the counterterm to 'true'.

  • Every positive statement in mathematics often has a counterterm representing its negation.

  • The counterterm to love is hate.

Synonyms

antonym
vscounterterm
3 3.2

A word with the opposite meaning of another word

is the same idea expressed as a different lexical form
opposite word
vscounterterm
3.2

A word that has the reverse meaning of another word

is the same idea but usually named as a single-word term

Antonyms

synonym
24 2.8

A word with the same or a very similar meaning to another word

Surface Forms

counterterm singular
counterterms plural

Morphology

counterterm = term (transparent) = counter + term

The composition 'counter' (against/opposite) + 'term' straightforwardly yields 'a term that opposes or negates another term'.

Etymology

Counterterm comes from the parts counter ('against' or 'opposite') and term ('word' or 'part'). A helpful way to remember this meaning is to think of counter as in counteract or counterbalance: a counterterm is a word or expression that stands 'against' another, so it gives the opposite or a negation.