5 syllables: An, ti, me, ta, bole. Stress on me.
an-tim-ET-uh-bohl
/ˌæntɪˈmɛtəˌboʊl/
Antimetabole is pronounced an-tim-ET-uh-bohl (/ˌæntɪˈmɛtəˌboʊl/). It has five syllables (An-ti-me-ta-bole), with the stress on "me". Antimetabole is a figure of speech in which words or phrases are repeated in reverse grammatical order for emphasis or contrast. It’s a polished, rhetorical device often used in prose and oratory. The term itself denotes reversal in structure, creating memorable symmetry that highlights a parallel idea.
nounAntimetabole is a figure of speech in which words or phrases are repeated in reverse grammatical order for emphasis or contrast. It’s a polished, rhetorical device often used in prose and oratory. The term itself denotes reversal in structure, creating memorable symmetry that highlights a parallel idea.
"The humor relies on antimetabole: you can take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy."
"“Eat to live, not live to eat” is a classic antimetabole that sharpens moral argument."
"Politicians sometimes use antimetabole to crystallize a policy stance in a compact paradox."
Pronounce as /ˌæn.ti.mɪˈtæ.boʊl/ (US) with primary stress on ta- syllable: an-ti-me-TA-bole. The first three syllables are relatively quick; the key stress lands on the 'tæ' in 'tabo' portion. Mouth positions: start with a neutral schwa-like onset on /æ/ then a clear /t/ closure before /i/ or /mɪ/. For UK/US, the final -bole sounds like /boʊl/ (US) or /bəʊl/ (UK). Audio example would reinforce rhythm: “an-ti-me-TA-bole.”
Common errors: misplacing stress (trying to stress the first syllable instead of the secondary stress on -tab-), mispronouncing the central /mɪˈtæ/ cluster (slurring the /t/ or turning /æ/ into a schwa), and ending with /boʊl/ instead of /boʊl/ with correct lip rounding. Correction: keep the /t/ clearly released before /i/ and emphasize the -tæ- with a light but definite /t/ release, then glide into /boʊl/. Practice saying ‘an-ti-me-TAB-ol’ with a crisp, lifted final /l/.
US tends to flap the /t/ in casual speech? Not here; keep the /t/ clear; /ˌæn.ti.mɪˈtæ.boʊl/. UK often uses a slightly less rhotic ending and may render /boʊl/ as /bəʊl/ with a longer vowel; UK /ˈæ.n.ti.mɪˈtæ.bəʊl/ shows less vowel reduction. Australian typically aligns with non-rhotic tendencies and a broader /æ/ in /tæ/ with a more open /əʊ/ in the final syllable. In all, the primary stress remains on the third syllable group, and the central vowel sounds should remain distinct.
Three main challenges: 1) the long, multi-syllabic word with several close vowels can cause vowel reduction if you speak quickly. 2) The /t/ clusters in -met-a- and -tabo- require clear articulation; don’t let the /t/ blend with adjacent sounds. 3) The final -bole (/boʊl/ or /bəʊl/) can drift toward a /bəl/ if the /l/ is underarticulated. Focus on clean syllable separation and deliberate lip rounding for the final vowel. IPA cues accompany careful jaw closure and tip-to-alveolar release.
No, Antimetabole has no silent letters in standard pronunciation. Every syllable carries a voiced or voiceless sound: /ˌæn.ti.mɪˈtæ.boʊl/. The emphasis lies on the ‘tab-’ portion, but none of the letters are silent. Be mindful of not dropping the /t/ between /i/ and /mɪ/ and keep the final /l/ audible.
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Antimetabole derives from Greek anti-, meaning against, and metabole, meaning turn or change. The root metabale appears in ‘metabole,’ from meta- (with, after, among) and bole (to throw or put). The term was adopted in rhetorical studies in the 17th–18th centuries to describe figures involving reversal of word order. Early classical uses appear in Roman and Greek rhetoric, where stylists exploited symmetrical phrases for emphasis. The modern scholarly understanding of antimetabole emphasizes precise syntactic reversal: a structure like “A b B a” or “A B B A” where the same words appear in inverse order. Over time, antimetabole has been celebrated for its conciseness and memorable cadence, appearing in speeches, poetry, and prose to crystallize contrasting ideas in a compact, elegant form. The concept is closely related to chiasmus, though chiasmus emphasizes crossing in syntax more broadly, while antimetabole explicitly inverts the word order. The terminology was popularized in rhetorical handbooks and linguistic studies, reinforcing the idea that form and meaning reinforce each other through inversion. The first known formal treatment traces to classical rhetoricians who analyzed the power of mirrored sentence structures to persuade and delight audiences. Its enduring use in modern literature and political oratory testifies to its effectiveness in shaping memorable arguments.
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Words that rhyme with "Antimetabole"
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