General terms:
* Contrast: This is a broad term that encompasses any comparison that highlights differences.
* Opposition: This emphasizes the direct conflict or disagreement between the opposing elements.
* Antithesis: This refers to a specific literary device where two opposing ideas are placed in parallel structure, creating a strong contrast.
* Juxtaposition: This involves placing two contrasting elements side by side, often to create a surprising or ironic effect.
Specific terms:
* Binary opposition: This is a theoretical concept in linguistics and literary studies that describes pairs of opposing terms (e.g., good/evil, light/dark).
* Paradox: This refers to a statement that seems contradictory but may contain a truth.
* Oxymoron: This is a figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms (e.g., deafening silence, living dead).
Phrases:
* "On the one hand...on the other hand"
* "In contrast to..."
* "As opposed to..."
* "Contrary to..."
* "Despite..."
The best way to express the idea of opposites in a sentence depends on the specific context and what you want to emphasize.