A test, merely for my curiosity.

love
[luhv]
Show IPA noun, verb, loved, lov·ing. noun 1. a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.

2. a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.

3. sexual passion or desire.

4. a person toward whom love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart.

5. (used in direct address as a term of endearment, affection, or the like): Would you like to see a movie, love?


Antonyms:
1, 2. hatred, dislike. 15, 16. detest, hate.

I know this isn't what you meant, but I just felt like being that clinical definition muthafucka at the moment.

Apathy...

Hate and love have too many similarities. Originally Posted by Valerie

I was going to say indifference, but apathy works too. Hate and love aren't similar, they are the same thing. They are both secondary emotions rooted in need and respect; one just has a lot more anger (which is a derivative of fear.)

Indifference is more of a black hole. It soaks up energy, rather than reflecting it. I would argue,

white, clear, black
positive, neutral, negative
right, ambivalent, wrong
love, indifference, hate Originally Posted by proudoftexas

I don't know that I agree that indifference is a black hole. I'm am utterly indifferent towards my ex-husband. I want him to live well. Enjoy his life. Be happy for that matter, but at the end of the day, I really don't care - at all.

I would also argue that clear partners with opaque not in an equation with white and black. I agree with the positive and right equations. For the love equation, I'd put fear in the middle.

Interesting answers so far....
Much to think about.
My answer is fear is the opposite of love.
Since anger, pain, apprehension, and eventually apathy. all that stems from fear tend to keep one from love.
But I've been given more to think about.

Would you say love & fear are taught or instinctual behaviors?

I would love to say that they are taught behaviors . But, I am afraid my instincts warn me otherwise......ijs

Both. But inherently instinctual.

Bob Dylan
I met a young man who was wounded in love, I met another man who was wounded in hatred

Would you say love & fear are taught or instinctual behaviors? Originally Posted by Dorian Gray

Neither are. Fear is a primary emotion. Love is a quasi-secondary enotion rooted in desire and trust / need. You cannot learn to love any more than you can learn the Darwinian principle of fear.

Faith is the opposite of fear