What are antonyms?

Antonyms are fundamentally defined as words that have opposite meanings. This means that when you consider a word, its antonym conveys a contrasting idea or concept. For example, "hot" is an antonym of "cold," highlighting how these two words express opposing temperatures. Understanding antonyms is crucial in enriching vocabulary and enhancing the clarity of communication because they allow for a more nuanced expression of thoughts and ideas.

The other options present different relationships between words, such as synonyms, which indicate similarity, and homophones, which relate to pronunciation. However, these relationships do not define antonyms, making the first choice the one that correctly identifies the concept of opposite meanings.