contrast

noun

(countable) A difference between two objects, people or concepts.

(countable) Something that is opposite of or strikingly different from something else.

(countable) A difference in lightness, brightness or hue between two colours that makes them more or less distinguishable.

(uncountable) The degree of this difference.

(countable) A control on a television, etc, that adjusts the amount of contrast in the images being displayed.

(countable, uncountable, rhetoric) Antithesis.

(uncountable, medicine) Contrast medium

verb

(transitive) To set in opposition in order to show the difference or differences between; to counterpoint.

(intransitive, often with with) To form a contrast.

Roots

contracontra- · Latin · against, opposite sto-sta · Latin · stand

Synonyms for contrast

contradistinctionn contrapose comparisonn contrapositionn comparingn likeningn contrarietyn contradictionn antithesisn analogizev

Synonyms & related words for contrast

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of contrast — including contradistinction, contrapose, comparison, contraposition, comparing, likening. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to contrast

Explore words related to contrast — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include contrastable, contrastingly, contradistinctive, contradistinctively, contrasty, counterpoint, contrastive, compared. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for contrast

Common synonyms for contrast include contradistinction, contrapose, comparison, contraposition, comparing, likening, contrariety, contradiction — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does contrast come from?

The word contrast breaks down into 2 roots of Latin origin: contra-, from Latin contra (“against, opposite”); and -sta, from Latin sto (“stand”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.