Antithesis (Gr. anti, 'against,' and thesis, from tithēmi, 'I place'), an opposition or contrast of ideas expressed by bringing words that are the natural opposites of each other close together so as to produce a strong contrast. Thus
Lessing, in a criticism on a book, says: 'It contains many good things and many new; but the good are not new, and the new are not good.' Antithesis, when naturally and moderately employed, gives liveliness to style; but, like all strong figures of speech, becomes wearisome when too often repeated, as it is in the sonorous prose of Dr Johnson.