Antonyms, or words that are opposite in meaning to another word or phrase, for the word "capstones" might include things like: bases, foundations, beginnings, openings, starts, rudiments, or origins. Capstones are typically seen as a final or crowning achievement, so to find antonyms one must consider words that connote the opposite end of a process or progression. In terms of a building, for example, the capstone might be the top block or stone that completes the structure, so a foundational antonym would be something like a groundwork or cornerstone. Alternatively, in the context of education, an antonym for capstones might be introductory courses or preliminary studies.