Antonyms are pairs of words that have opposite meanings and are used to show contrast or opposition. Examples of antonyms include hot and cold, good and bad, up and down, fast and slow, and happy and sad. The prefix "anti-" in antonym indicates opposition or being against, which explains why antonyms are words with opposite meanings. Antonyms can be valuable in writing and communication because they convey precise meanings and add variety and contrast to language.
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