contradistinction
Differentiation by opposition
Contradistinction is distinction by contrast—defining something by emphasizing how it differs from something else.
The word appears almost exclusively in the phrase in contradistinction to: She spoke of craftsmanship in contradistinction to mass production.
It's formal and somewhat stiff, used when a writer wants to sharpen a comparison.
Recognizing meaningful differences
- juxtapositionAdjacent contrasting placement
- antithesisDirect opposite; contrasting juxtaposition
- dichotomyDivision into contrasting parts
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
polarity · divergence · disparity · dissimilarity · incongruity · discrepancy · variance · heterogeneity
Recognizing meaningful differences
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- examinationMethodical assessment or review
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- discernmentKeen perception and judgment
classification · categorization · taxonomy · sorting · delineation · parsing · juxtaposing · weighing
Most notable part
- underscoreLow horizontal text mark
- accentuateTo give emphasis
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- spotlightConcentrated illumination source
foreground · clarify · isolate · specify · pinpoint · particularize · delineate · define
differentiation
Recognizing meaningful differences
- juxtapositionAdjacent contrasting placement
- antithesisDirect opposite; contrasting juxtaposition
- dichotomyDivision into contrasting parts
opposition · polarity · divergence · disparity · dissimilarity · incongruity · discrepancy · variance · heterogeneity · unlikeness
differentiation
Recognizing meaningful differences
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- examinationMethodical assessment or review
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
discernment · classification · categorization · taxonomy · sorting · delineation · parsing · juxtaposing · weighing · assessment
highlight
Most notable part
- underscoreLow horizontal text mark
- accentuateTo give emphasis
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
spotlight · foreground · clarify · isolate · specify · pinpoint · particularize · delineate · define · sharpen
contradistinctionidentification
Establishing who someone is
equation · conflation · assimilation · unification · merger
contradistinctionlikeness
Visual similarity or representation
similarity · sameness · resemblance · equivalence · correspondence
contrast, distinct, distinction, distinguish, indistinct, distinctive, distinctly, indistinguishable, distinctiveness