diametrical opposition
1
8.1
- noun
- /ˌdaɪəˈmɛtrɪkəl ˌɒpəˈzɪʃən/
- The author also convincingly demonstrates the diametrical opposition between the concepts of man held by religion and by socialism.
Examples
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Their views on education are in diametrical opposition; one advocates for traditional methods, while the other supports innovative techniques.
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The two theories of evolution and creationism are often discussed as being in diametrical opposition to one another.
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In so doing, they imagine themselves set in diametrical opposition to their society, when in fact they have unwittingly accepted its crucial structural elements.
Academic text (1993) -
They involve a diametrical opposition of stances, an opposition that involves no middle term.
Academic text (1994) -
This relation can be represented geometrically as diametrical opposition: a relation between two points on a circle through which a straight line passes if it also passes through the center of the circle.
Academic text (2006) -
"The author Shafarevich also convincingly demonstrates the diametrical opposition between the concepts of man held by religion and by socialism."
Blog text (33) -
At the same time, those who celebrate diversity make a grave mistake if they do not distinguish the complementarity of some horizons from the diametrical opposition of others.
Academic text (1994) -
In this context, I see an absolutely diametrical opposition between the life of killing and the overcoming of death through sacrifice within divine intervention—which I take to be a part of the covenant's promise.
Blog text (31) -
The political parties stood in diametrical opposition on the issue of climate change, reflecting their fundamentally different approaches.
Synonyms
3
3.7
A direction that faces the other way from another point
1
7.7
A situation where two ideas, groups, or feelings are against each other
1
6.7
A clear contrast between two very different ends that shows points between them
A relation between two points directly opposite each other on a sphere or circle
Antonyms
How Opposed
1
8.1
16
6.9
482
2.3
320
3.4
231
1.6
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a complete or direct opposition' is directly derivable from combining 'diametrical' (at opposite extremes or along a diameter) with 'opposition' (being opposite). This adjective+noun composition follows straightforward compositional patterns and would be predictable to a B1 learner who already knows both constituent words.
Etymology
The phrase diametrical opposition comes from the image of a diameter, a straight line through the middle of a circle where the two ends are exactly opposite. So when things are in diametrical opposition, they are at opposite ends and therefore 'completely opposed', with no middle ground.