Gradable antonyms are pairs of words that represent opposite ends of a spectrum, allowing for varying degrees of comparison. For example, the words hot and cold are gradable antonyms because they can describe temperatures that range from very hot to very cold, with many degrees in between, such as warm or cool. These antonyms enable us to express nuances in meaning. Instead of simply saying something is either big or small, we can use terms like large, medium, or tiny to convey more specific sizes. This flexibility helps in providing clearer descriptions in language.