May 2012
48 posts
Contronyms
The word contronym (also antagonym) is used to refer to words that, by some freak of language evolution, are their own antonyms.
Examples:
- custom: usual, special
- deceptively smart: smarter than one appears; dumber than one appears
- dust: add fine particles; remove fine particles
- first degree: most severe (e.g., murder); least severe (e.g., burn)
- transparent: invisible, obvious
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