autoantonyms
Words opposing themselves
Autoantonyms are words that carry two opposite meanings.
To sanction can mean to permit or to punish.
To cleave can mean to split apart or to cling together.
Dust means to remove fine particles (dusting furniture) or to add them (dusting a cake with sugar).
Also called contronyms or Janus words.
Split or adhere
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- dustFine settled particles
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- buckleFrame-and-prong fastener
clip · weather · trim · screen · left · rent · strike · bolt
Opposing claims, incompatible together
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- dualityTwofold nature
- antithesisDirect opposite; contrasting juxtaposition
- inversionReversal of position
reversal · dichotomy · polarity · juxtaposition · counterpoint · flip-flop · inconsistency · discrepancy
Word meaning its opposite
- polysemyWord having related meanings
- homographShared spelling, separate meanings
- double-entendreWords with suggestive second meaning
- ambiguityOpenness to multiple interpretations
cleave
Split or adhere
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- dustFine settled particles
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
buckle · clip · weather · trim · screen · left · rent · strike · bolt · bound
contradiction
Opposing claims, incompatible together
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- dualityTwofold nature
- antithesisDirect opposite; contrasting juxtaposition
inversion · reversal · dichotomy · polarity · juxtaposition · counterpoint · flip-flop · inconsistency · discrepancy · oxymoron
contronym
Word meaning its opposite
- polysemyWord having related meanings
- homographShared spelling, separate meanings
- double-entendreWords with suggestive second meaning
autoantonymssynonyms
Words with shared meaning
antonyms · homonyms · heteronyms · homophones · homographs