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Contradistinguish for Dummies

verb

pronunciation: ,kɑntrədɪ'stɪŋgwɪʃ

What does Contradistinguish really mean?

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Contradistinguish is a word that might sound a little intimidating at first, but don't worry, I'm here to help you understand it! So, have you ever heard of the saying "opposites attract"? Well, that's kind of what contradistinguish means. When we say that two things are different or opposite, they can sometimes be hard to tell apart. But when we contradistinguish them, we're trying to find the specific characteristics or qualities that set them apart from each other, making them easily distinguishable.

Let me give you an example to make it clearer. You know how we have different colors, like red and blue? Well, let's say we want to contradistinguish these two colors. We would start by looking at their specific characteristics -- for example, red is a warm color, while blue is a cool color. We can also look at their attributes, like red being associated with energy and passion, while blue is often linked to calmness and tranquility. By examining these qualities and characteristics, we can then easily tell them apart and say, "This is red, and that is blue!" We have successfully contradistinguished the two colors.

Now, it's important to note that contradistinguish can also be used to talk about people or things that are very similar, but still have certain characteristics or qualities that make them differ from each other. For instance, let's consider two best friends who both have a love for music. They may have a lot in common, but when we contradistinguish them, we focus on those little things that make each one unique, like their taste in music or their preferred instruments. This helps us see how they're not exactly the same, even though they have a lot in common.

In summary, contradistinguish means to distinguish or highlight the specific characteristics or qualities that set two things or people apart, even if they may seem similar at first. It helps us easily tell them apart and recognize their uniqueness. So, next time you come across this word, remember that it's all about finding those little details that make something or someone different from another!


Revised and Fact checked by Sarah Thompson on 2023-10-28 06:53:08

Contradistinguish In a sentece

Learn how to use Contradistinguish inside a sentece

  • We can contradistinguish between a lion and a tiger by looking at their physical characteristics. Lions have a shaggy mane around their necks, while tigers have stripes on their fur.
  • You can contradistinguish between hot and cold water by touching it. Hot water feels warm and can burn you, while cold water feels cool.
  • You can contradistinguish between an apple and an orange by their color and taste. Apples are usually red or green and taste sweet, while oranges are orange and taste tangy.
  • People with red hair can be contradistinguished from those with black hair based on their hair color. Red hair is a vibrant, fiery color, while black hair is dark.
  • In a library, you can contradistinguish between fiction books and non-fiction books. Fiction books are made-up stories, while non-fiction books provide information about real things.

Contradistinguish Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.