What is the opposite of “hydrophile”?

What is the antonym of “hydrophile”?

The antonym of hydrophile is hydrophobe and water-repelling. The antonyms hydrophobe and water-repelling describe substances that repel water, whereas hydrophile describes substances that attract water.

Brief Definitions of the Antonym(s)

Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!

hydrophobe

A substance that does not mix with or dissolve in water.

Example

Oil is a hydrophobe that floats on water.

water-repelling

Resistant to water; not allowing water to pass through.

Example

The jacket's water-repelling coating kept the rain from soaking through.

How are these antonyms different from each other?

• 1. Hydrophobe is a substance that does not mix with or dissolve in water.
• 2. Water-repelling is a property of a material that resists water and prevents it from passing through.

Good things to know

• 1. Science: Use these antonyms in scientific contexts to describe the properties of substances.
• 2. Product Design: Incorporate these antonyms in product design to create materials with specific water-related properties.
• 3. Everyday Life: Use these antonyms to describe the behavior of substances in everyday situations, such as cooking or cleaning.

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Remember this!

The antonyms hydrophobe and water-repelling describe substances that repel water, whereas hydrophile describes substances that attract water. These antonyms are useful in scientific contexts, product design, and everyday life to describe the properties and behavior of substances.