What Are Words That Are Their Own Antonyms?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around words that are their own antonyms, also known as contronyms. Participants explore various examples, definitions, and the evolution of meanings over time, with a focus on linguistic curiosities and ambiguities.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest examples like "egregious," which has shifted in meaning from something exceptionally good to something negative, and "nonplussed," which is used to mean both shocked and indifferent.
  • Others mention "cleave," which can mean both to stick together and to split apart, highlighting its dual meanings without irony.
  • Participants note that "flammable" and "inflammable" are often mistakenly thought to be antonyms but are actually synonyms.
  • Several words are proposed as examples of potential contronyms, including "oversight," "dust," and "clip," which can refer to both adding and removing.
  • One participant discusses the term "sanguine," suggesting it has multiple meanings related to blood and optimism, and questions its association with anger.
  • Another participant humorously mentions "irregardless" as a word they dislike, associating it with a lack of intelligence.
  • A list of contronyms is provided, showcasing various words with opposing meanings, such as "bolt," "fast," and "strike."

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a variety of opinions on the examples of contronyms, with no clear consensus on which words fit the category best. Some definitions and usages are contested, indicating ongoing debate.

Contextual Notes

Some participants clarify that certain words may not be true contronyms but are commonly used in ways that suggest antonymic meanings. The discussion also reflects on the historical evolution of word meanings, which may not align with current usage.

  • #31
arildno said:
To the natives:
Are "ingenuous" and "ingenious" homophone words?
No.
ingenuous - in jen you us
Ingenious - in jeen ee us.
 
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  • #32
lisab said:
There's one (I think just one) word in English that if you change the first letter from lower case to upper case, the definition *and* the pronunciation change.
Polish and Polish comes to mind. That doesn't look right, I should have started with the upper case one. How about a noun that changes from plural to singular by adding an s at the end.
 
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  • #33
jimmysnyder said:
No.
ingenuous - in jen you us
Ingenious - in jeen ee us.

Thanks
 
  • #34
jimmysnyder said:
Polish and Polish comes to mind.
Also Brat and Brat! :biggrin:
 
  • #35
Gokul43201 said:
Also Brat and Brat! :biggrin:

Wow!

I was thinking of polish/Polish, but now there's brat/Brat, and they're both types of sausage...how funny.
 
  • #36
Well one is also a http://webmaster.beverleypaine.com/images/new_brat.jpg
 
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  • #37
just thought of one:

Attack: to move swiftly toward one's opponents.

except in bicycling

Attack: to move swiftly away from one's opponents.
 
  • #38
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  • #39
Gokul43201 said:
Also Brat and Brat! :biggrin:
Both words are uncapitalized.
 
  • #40
Moot.
My mother claims that nowadays it's used to mean something that's irrelevent/resolved, so it doesn't need to be discussed ("a moot point"), but I first met the word when Tolkein uses it with its older meaning: a long discussion of a tricky topic ("an Entmoot").

On a similar note:
Mall (as in shopping mall) and maul (as into wound horribly) are from the same root:
There used to be a rather violent sport (used to be. snort. whatever.) which managed to bequeath its name both to the wooden clubs with which it was played (maul) and playing field on which it was played (mall). From the noun maul, the verb to maul was a natural consequence. The playing field also lent out its name, coming to mean any wide, smooth grassy area (there's a National Mall in Washington, D.C.), which in turn leant itself to any wide, open area, even an enclosed one with lots of stores inside.
 
  • #41
jimmysnyder said:
August and august, but it's not a sausage.

Bucket and bucket (to Hyacinth anyway)


I looked these up. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_case_sensitive_English_words
Job, job

Natal, natal

Ranier, ranier

Herb, herb

Nice, nice

Reading, reading

Tangier, tangier.


Wow. Brilliant! Wiki-brilliant!

(I should have known Rainier - I see it straight out my my bedroom window)
 
  • #42
Poop-Loops said:
I also hate the word "irregardless". Whenever someone uses it, I can safely conclude that they are morons trying to act smart.

Alas, "irregardless" is, indeed, a word. Look it up.
 

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