not
Opposite of affirmative
English provides a convenient context clue for negative words: the letter n.
Not is the most frequently used, even without counting the words in which not is disguised as n’t, such as can’t and won’t.
Not gets its impressive usage statistics from being a general purpose negater: it can make clauses, phrases, and words in every part of speech negative by being prefixed to them.
Negating a verb means integrating not into the auxiliary verb of a verb phrase, as in hasn’t seen or won’t come.
Not is combined with do to make doesn’t or don’t when no auxiliary is present, but in older and formal English, you can negate a verb with not alone: Judge not that you not be judged.
Contrast introducer
- howeverIntroduces a contrasting point
- yetStill, or eventually
- althoughConcessive conjunction
- thoughConcession marker
instead · rather · otherwise · conversely · alternatively · except · unless · contrary
Not allowed
- bannedOfficially disallowed
- prohibitedOfficially not permitted
- disallowedOfficially not permitted
- restrictedLimited in scope
off-limits · taboo · impermissible · unauthorized · barred · blocked · vetoed · outlawed
never
At no point
nothing · nowhere · nobody · no one · nope · nay · negative · null · void · zero
but
Contrast introducer
though · instead · rather · otherwise · conversely · alternatively · except · unless · contrary · opposite
forbidden
Not allowed
- bannedOfficially disallowed
- prohibitedOfficially not permitted
- disallowedOfficially not permitted
restricted · off-limits · taboo · impermissible · unauthorized · barred · blocked · vetoed · outlawed · excluded
notindeed
Word affirming emphasis
truly · certainly · positively · so · actually
notyes
Opposite of no
absolutely · certainly · definitely · positively · undoubtedly
note, notice, notes, noted, notable, notify, noticeable, notorious, noting