Zenith-Nadir | Commonly Confused Words
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Zenith vs. Nadir

Zenith

The point in the sky or celestial sphere directly above an observer or the highest point or state something can reach

Examples:

A comet streaked across the zenith of the night sky.Climbing the mountain, they reached the zenith by noon.His musical career reached its zenith in the late 90s.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Nadir

The lowest point or a point of extreme adversity

Examples:

The project was at its nadir when funding was cut.Her mood hit its nadir after the disappointing results.The negotiations reached a nadir, with no solution in sight.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

etymology
  • Zenith and nadir are terms often used in astronomy and geography.
  • Zenith refers to the highest point directly above an observer.
  • Nadir is the opposite of zenith and refers to the point directly below the observer.
  • Remember that Z comes before N in the alphabet, just as the zenith (top) comes before the nadir (bottom) on a list.
  • Zenith is often associated with peaks or high points, while nadir often signifies low points or downturns.
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