Question

Identify the type of antonym : Alive ↔ Dead

• A. Gradable
• B. Complementary
• C. Converse
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Complementary

Antonyms are classified into three types:

1. Gradable Antonyms – Opposites that exist on a spectrum, allowing for degrees between them (e.g., hot ↔ cold, big ↔ small).

2. Complementary Antonyms – Words that are mutually exclusive; if one exists, the other cannot (e.g., true ↔ false, present ↔ absent).

3. Converse Antonyms – Words that describe a reciprocal relationship, meaning one implies the existence of the other (e.g., buy ↔ sell, parent ↔ child).

"Alive" and "Dead" are complementary antonyms because a person or thing can either be alive or dead—there is no in-between state. If one is true, the other must be false.