What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Complimentary vs Opposite - What's the difference?

complimentary | opposite |

As adjectives the difference between complimentary and opposite

is that complimentary is in the nature of a compliment while opposite is located directly across from something else, or from each other.

As a noun opposite is

something opposite or contrary to another.

As an adverb opposite is

in an opposite position.

As a preposition opposite is

facing, or across from.

complimentary

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • In the nature of a compliment.
  • * , The Letters of Mark Twain, Vol. 3 (published 2004) p. 56.
  • But yesterday evening late, when Lewis arrived from down town he found his supper spread, and some presents of books there, with very complimentary' writings on the fly-leaves, and certain very ' complimentary letters, and more or less greenbacks of dignified denomination pinned to those letters and fly-leaves...
  • Free; provided at no charge.
  • * Vivien Lougheed, Belize Pocket Adventures (2005), p. 65.
  • In the evenings, Ward and PJ offer guests a complimentary drink. This gesture seems to reinforce the hosts' desire to make everyone feel welcome.
  • With respect to the closing of a letter, formal and professional.
  • * Richard H. Beatty, The Perfect Cover Letter (2003).
  • The complimentary closing is the word grouping used to bring the message or text to a close.

    Usage notes

    * Complimentary and complementary are frequently confused and misused in place of one another.

    Antonyms

    * uncomplimentary

    Derived terms

    * complimentarily * complimentariness

    opposite

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l) (archaic)

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Located directly across from something else, or from each other.
  • She saw him walking on the opposite side of the road.
  • Facing in the other direction.
  • They were moving in opposite directions.
  • Of either of two complementary or mutually exclusive things.
  • He has a lot of success with the opposite sex.
  • Extremely different; inconsistent; contrary; repugnant; antagonistic.
  • * Dryden
  • Novels, by which the reader is misled into another sort of pieasure opposite to that which is designed in an epic poem.
  • * John Locke
  • Particles of speech have divers, and sometimes almost opposite , significations.

    Derived terms

    * opposite sex

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something opposite or contrary to another.
  • An opponent.
  • An antonym.
  • "Up" is the opposite of "down".
  • (mathematics) An additive inverse.
  • Derived terms

    * opposites attract

    Adverb

    (-)
  • In an opposite position.
  • I was on my seat and she stood opposite .

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • Facing, or across from.
  • :
  • *
  • *:It was April 22, 1831, and a young man was walking down Whitehall in the direction of Parliament Street.. He halted opposite the Privy Gardens, and, with his face turned skywards, listened until the sound of the Tower guns smote again on the ear and dispelled his doubts.
  • In a complementary role to.
  • :
  • See also

    * apposite

    Statistics

    * 1000 English basic words ----