dichotomy
Two opposed halves
A dichotomy is a division into two parts or classes.
Though the word trichotomy exists (division into three parts), dichotomy is fifty times more frequent because people like to present things in pairs, as opposites, or as simple alternatives.
It seems to be nearly as popular to criticize the division of something into two parts because the most frequent adjective that modifies dichotomy is false: The differences outlined between these two projects are superficial and present a false dichotomy.
Adjacent contrasting placement
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- antithesisDirect opposite; contrasting juxtaposition
- distinctionNotable difference or honor
- disparityMeasurable difference between things
divergence · contradiction · polarity · duality · tension · either-or · black-and-white · incompatibility
Two matching things
twofold · bipartite · two-sided · double · yin-yang · counterpart · two-pronged · bilateral
Division into two branches
- splitSeparation into parts
- separationState of being apart
- partitionBarrier separating spaces
- cleavageTendency to split cleanly
schism · demarcation · categorization · classification · boundary · either-or · two-part · bipartite
Mental-physical relationship
- CartesianOf x-y coordinate geometry
- subject-objectCore syntactic functions
- thesis-antithesisContradictory positions in argument
- dialecticLogical argument through opposition
essentialism · structuralism · deconstruction · Manichean · good-evil
juxtaposition
Adjacent contrasting placement
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- antithesisDirect opposite; contrasting juxtaposition
- distinctionNotable difference or honor
disparity · divergence · contradiction · polarity · duality · tension · either-or · black-and-white · incompatibility · irreconcilability
pair
Two matching things
binary · twofold · bipartite · two-sided · double · yin-yang · counterpart · two-pronged · bilateral · duplex
bifurcation
Division into two branches
- splitSeparation into parts
- separationState of being apart
- partitionBarrier separating spaces
cleavage · schism · demarcation · categorization · classification · boundary · either-or · two-part · bipartite · halving
mind-body
Mental-physical relationship
- CartesianOf x-y coordinate geometry
- subject-objectCore syntactic functions
- thesis-antithesisContradictory positions in argument
dialectic · essentialism · structuralism · deconstruction · Manichean · good-evil
- oppositesopposite, opposites, antonym, antonyms, inverse
- classificationcategory, classification, group, cataloging, grouping
- divisiondivision, divide, divided, dividing, split
- contrastsopposites, antithesis, polarity, duality, juxtaposition
- literary devicesmetaphor, simile, hyperbole, personification, alliteration
- Dualityduality, dual nature, two sides, yin and yang, yin-yang
dichotomyunity
Wholeness through cohesion
wholeness · unification · integration · oneness · synthesis
dichotomysameness
State of being identical
similarity · likeness · agreement · equivalence · correspondence
- false dichotomyPretend two-choice situation
- false dichotomiesArtificially limited choice sets
- dichotomous keyBranching organism identifier
dichotomous, dichotomies, dichotomize, dichotomized, dichotomizing