Chiasmus
A structure that reverses itself — the second half mirrors the first in inverted order, ABBA.
Full definition of Chiasmus →:: COMPARE ::
ChiasmusvsAntimetabole
The short answer
Antimetabole repeats the exact words in reverse; chiasmus reverses the structure and may use entirely different words. Handbooks differ on whether antimetabole is a kind of chiasmus or a separate figure — and since it supplies nearly every example people quote, the narrow sense has swallowed the broad one.
Side by side
| Aspect | Chiasmus | Antimetabole |
|---|---|---|
| Repeats words | Not required | Required |
| Reverses structure | Yes | Yes |
| Which is broader | This one | A subtype |
| Most famous examples | — | These |
What each one means
Antimetabole
The contrast above sets out how Antimetabole differs from Chiasmus on the points that actually matter.