5 syllables: an, ti, ox, i, dants. Stress on ox.
an-tee-AHK-suh-duhnts
/ˌæntiˈɑksədənts/
antioxidants is pronounced an-tee-AHK-suh-duhnts (/ˌæntiˈɑksədənts/). It has five syllables (an-ti-ox-i-dants), with the stress on "ox". Antioxidants are substances that mitigate oxidative damage by neutralizing free radicals. They play a defensive role in biology and nutrition, helping protect cells from injury. In food science and medicine, antioxidants are valued for potential health benefits, though effects vary by compound and context.
Antioxidants are substances that mitigate oxidative damage by neutralizing free radicals. They play a defensive role in biology and nutrition, helping protect cells from injury. In food science and medicine, antioxidants are valued for potential health benefits, though effects vary by compound and context.
- Misplacing primary stress: often people stress the first syllable or the middle; fix by thinking three-beat rhythm: an-ti-ox-i-dants, with main beat on 'dants'.- Vowel pitfalls: confuse /ɒ/ in 'ox' with /æ/; ensure short 'o' quality; practice with minimal pairs to feel the difference between /ɒ/ and /ɪ/.- Final consonant cluster: keep final /nts/ crisp; avoid voicing or swallowing. - Practice tip: break word into 4 chunks, say slowly, then blend to natural speed; record yourself and compare to IPA cues.
"The study showed that a diet rich in antioxidants could reduce oxidative stress."
"Vitamin C and E are well-known antioxidants used in supplements and fortified foods."
"Researchers are investigating antioxidants as potential therapies for chronic diseases."
Pronounce as /ˌæn.tiˌɒk.sɪˈdænts/ in UK/US and /ˌæn.tiˈɒk.sɪˌdents/ in some US variants. Stress typically falls on the third syllable: an-ti-OX-i-dants with secondary stress on the second syllable. Mouth positions: start with a neutral schwa-like /ə/ in unstressed middle, then the
Common mistakes: misplacing stress on the wrong syllable (transposing stress to the second or first syllable), pronouncing the middle 'oxid' as /ɒkˈsɪd/ vs /ˈɒk.sɪ.dənt/; and mispronouncing 'dants' as /dənts/ instead of /dənts/. Correction: clearly mark three chunks: an-ti-ox-i-dants; keep /ˈɒk.sɪ/ sequence in the middle and end with /dænts/ or /dənts/ depending on accent. Practice with slow breakdown and IPA cues.
In US, you often hear /ˌæn.tiˌɒk.sɪˈdænts/ with a rhotacized /ɜː/ in some speakers and a pronounced /ɒ/ in 'ox'. UK variants may place stress slightly later: /ˌæn.tɪˌɒkˈsɪ.dənts/ with less emphasis on the 'ant' initial and more on 'oxid'. Australian tends toward /ˌæn.tiˈɒk.sɪ.dənts/ with a broader vowel in /ɒ/ and non-rhoticity; final /nts/ remains. Consistency across contexts matters for science writing.
Key challenges: consecutive consonant clusters in 'ant-i-ox-i-dants' and the 'ks' sound in 'oxid' followed by a soft 'd' before 'ants'. The tri-syllabic structure with mixed vowel qualities (short /æ/ vs /ɒ/) can cause tongue-tension. To master: segment the word, practice slow to fast, emphasize the transition from 'ox' to 'i' to 'dants' to maintain fluidity.
Unique aspect: the sequence 'oxid' with /ɒk sɪ/ is common in many scientific terms (oxidation/oxidants). The 's' before the 'i' can influence whether you hear /ˌɒk.sɪˈdænts/ or /ˌɒkˈsɪ.dənts/ in some accents. Awareness of the 'ox' diphthong and the final 'ants' cluster helps keep the word cohesive in fast speech.
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- US: rhoticity is common; 'r' is not present here, but you may hear a more pronounced /ɪ/ and /ə/ in unstressed syllables. - UK: less r-colored vowel; keep /ɒ/ for 'ox' and ensure crisp ends /dænts/. - AU: similar to UK but with broader vowel sounds, with non-rhoticity; watch for vowel length; ensure the 't' is weaker than the 'd' in 'dants'.
The term antioxidant emerged in the early 20th century, building on chemistry roots that describe substances capable of preventing oxidation. It combines prefix anti- (against) with the root oxidant, referring to agents that inhibit oxidation processes. The notion of oxidation in chemistry (loss of electrons) was formalized in the 18th and 19th centuries, while the biological concept of oxidative stress gaining traction in mid-20th century. The modern usage often appears in nutrition and biochemistry, highlighting compounds that counteract peroxidation of lipids and DNA damage. First known usage in scientific literature traces to the 1950s–1960s, aligning with advancing understanding of oxidative mechanisms and cellular defense systems. Over decades, the term expanded to include a wide family of molecules (vitamins C and E, carotenoids, polyphenols, enzymes) and various industrial antioxidants, with cross-disciplinary adoption in health, food science, and pharmacology.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "antioxidants" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "antioxidants" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "antioxidants"
-nts sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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