opposite vs. to be in opposition

[palinkasocsi]

Can we say that:

good - bad --- these two words are opposites (diametrical opposites)

BUT

in --- It was a wonderful party vs. It was a lousy party --- 'wonderful' vs. 'lousy' are NOT opposites but they are in opposition?

In other words, do you agree that good-bad; black-white; male-female etc. are OPPOSITES, while if a pair of words cannot be cleary measured as DIAMETRICAL OPPOSITES, it is better to say that they are IN OPPOSITION (rather than they are OPPOSITES)?

Thank you very much.

[Mike the cool person]

Opposites are not confined to specific words such as yes-no, black-white, male-female etc. The weather may be described as horrible, wet, ghastly, dismal and so on, or conversely great, lovely, fantastic, beautiful etc. Each of these examples are opposites, but the words themselves may not be opposites. It is the meaning imparted by their use that determines this. The term "in opposition" is not applicable in this instance.

[banderas]

Originally Posted by palinkasocsi

Can we say that:

good - bad --- these two words are opposites (diametrical opposites)

BUT

in --- It was a wonderful party vs. It was a lousy party --- 'wonderful' vs. 'lousy' are NOT opposites but they are in opposition?

In other words, do you agree that good-bad; black-white; male-female etc. are OPPOSITES, while if a pair of words cannot be cleary measured as DIAMETRICAL OPPOSITES, it is better to say that they are IN OPPOSITION (rather than they are OPPOSITES)?

Thank you very much.

I would not use "in opposition". How about: the antonym of wonderful is lousy or the opposite of wonderful is lousy.