The Opposite(Antonym) of “should”
The antonyms of should are shouldn't, ought not to, and don't have to. These antonyms convey the opposite meaning of should and indicate that something is not necessary or advisable.
Explore all Antonyms of “should”
- shouldn't
- ought not to
- don't have to
- needn't
Definitions and Examples of shouldn't, ought not to, don't have to
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
shouldn't
Used to indicate that something is not advisable or appropriate.
Example
You shouldn't eat too much junk food if you want to stay healthy.
Example
You ought not to skip breakfast if you want to have enough energy for the day.
Key Differences: shouldn't vs ought not to vs don't have to
- 1Shouldn't and ought not to are similar in meaning and both indicate that something is not advisable or recommended, but ought not to sounds more formal and less common in everyday conversation.
- 2Don't have to indicates that something is not necessary or required, while shouldn't and ought not to imply that something is not advisable or recommended.
Effective Usage of shouldn't, ought not to, don't have to
- 1Giving Advice: Use shouldn't or ought not to to advise against doing something.
- 2Expressing Freedom: Use don't have to to indicate that something is optional or not required.
- 3Negotiating: Use these antonyms to express different degrees of obligation or necessity in negotiations or discussions.
Remember this!
The antonyms of should convey the opposite meaning and indicate that something is not necessary or advisable. Use shouldn't or ought not to to advise against doing something, don't have to to indicate that something is optional, and incorporate these antonyms in negotiations or discussions to express different degrees of obligation or necessity.
