Complementary antonyms are pairs of words that represent opposite concepts, where the presence of one implies the absence of the other. For example, the words alive and dead are complementary antonyms because if something is alive, it cannot be dead, and vice versa. These pairs do not allow for any middle ground or degrees; something is either one or the other. Another example of complementary antonyms is true and false. In this case, a statement can only be classified as true or false, with no possibility of being partially true. Understanding complementary antonyms helps clarify language and enhances communication by providing clear distinctions between opposing ideas.