Understanding Antimerism: A Guide to the Figure of Speech

Antimerism is a figure of speech in which two contrasting ideas or words are placed side by side, often in parallel structure, to emphasize their differences. It is the opposite of merism, which is the use of two contrasting ideas or words in the same sentence.

For example: "He was neither tall nor short, but of just average height." In this sentence, "tall" and "short" are contrasted with each other, and "average height" is placed between them to show that the person is not extremely tall or short, but rather of a moderate height.

Antimerism can be used to create a sense of balance and harmony in writing, as well as to emphasize the differences between two ideas or concepts. It can also be used to create humor or irony by juxtaposing two contrasting ideas in a way that is unexpected or surprising.