Using my reasoning, are many things we call opposites actually opposites?

Question

What is the opposite of black? If you're answer was white, I don't think you're right. They are both adjectives. They are both colours. They have things in common so are they really opposites? Or do things have to have certain things in common to be opposites?

Edit:
Toys4Syd: Well, they both exist. They can both be seen....I guess I'm splitting hairs...

Answer 1

Hmm… Interesting idea, but I would think that I might disagree. I feel your logic is interesting, but somewhat awry.

You claim that perhaps many of the things we consider opposites are possibly in fact not, but I argue that they are. Now, you asked more than one question, so I will address them all in the order you gave. Initially, the reason I say such a thing as black and white ARE opposites is that you say, “What is the opposite of black? If your answer was white, I do not think you are right. They are both adjectives.” Well, ok, you are correct, they both ARE adjectives, but what does that have to do with them NOT being opposite? Are you then contesting that opposites both cannot be adjectives? Therefore is black and orange opposites because orange is *primarily* a noun, (and for those word fanatics out there – yes – orange can also be a adjective when used in a certain way).

Opposites are not defined by what part of speech they are, but rather (in my opinion) the fact that they contrast with one another – thus making them opposite. You then go on to say, “They have things in common so are they really opposites? Or do things have to have certain things in common to be opposites?” I would again still say yes, they should have things in common because it is in fact necessary for the two things being compared to have something in common in order to be categorized as a opposite to another. It is evident that the word “open” is the opposite of “shut” since they both pertain to something such as a door, lid, latch, drawer, etc… It would be illogical for us to associate the word “shut” to being an opposite for something totally unrelated/uncommon like the word “stop” (notice neither one is an adjective either).

So, I say to you this, I feel many of the things we call opposites really are as such and while there may be words that have the potential for more than one opposite (such as small vs. big, huge, large, giant, etc…) they still have the same thing in common – they contrast. This is just my opinion on it though. Cheers!

Answer 2

I think some are a general concensus. If most people say they are opposite then it makes it so. One of my kids books actually says that an Elephant and a mouse is an opposite. I thought that was a stretch.

Answer 3

Using your reasoning squirrel is the opposite of black. They have nothing in common. Squirrel is a mammal and a noun.

Answer 4

thats a good question and with good reasoning.
if white is not the opposite of black then wat is?
but u can say that opposite of dark is light right?
i thought that adjectives can have opposites but i might be wrong
if things have common things then it wouldn't be opposites, wouldn't it be synonyms instead?

Answer 5

white is the color without hue at one extreme end of the scale of grays. A white surface reflects all light completely and diffusely.

black is the color at the other extreme end of the scale of grays, opposite to white, absorbing all light incident upon it.

So white and black are by definition opposites, since one absorbs all hues and the other reflects all hues.