# Words that have opposite meanings **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 20, 2003, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-opposite-meanings/196387 "2003-08-20T07:15:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-opposite-meanings/196387/1 "2003-08-20T07:15:25Z")
They’re called antonyms. Hamsters love 'em. _[scroll down for OP]_ ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-opposite-meanings/196387/2 "2003-08-20T07:43:30Z")
Do you mean words like ‘cleave’ which means ‘split’ but also ‘bind’? (also, but less impressively: ‘fast’ - to ‘move fast’ and to be ‘stuck fast’) ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-opposite-meanings/196387/3 "2003-08-20T07:52:16Z")
NASCAR _sanctioned_ (approved) the Michigan WC race. NASCAR _sanctioned_ (penalized) Jimmy Spencer for post-race assault. ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-opposite-meanings/196387/4 "2003-08-20T08:08:07Z")
[www.dictionary.com](http://www.dictionary.com) 's definition of an antonym is, > [@](#): > > A word having a meaning opposite to that of another word: The word wet is an antonym of the word dry. But surely you’re not looking for pairs like hard and soft; long and short. What you’re looking for are words that are their own antonyms, right? A few more on this page ([Link](http://cartalk.cars.com/About/Antonyms/)). ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-opposite-meanings/196387/5 "2003-08-20T08:13:37Z")
I found a word with two pairs of opposite meanings; _scale_. As a verb, it can mean to remove layers from something (like scaling a fish) or to become encrusted with layers. As a noun, it can mean a sequence (a musician will play a particular scale) or a specific amount (as an actor being paid scale). ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-opposite-meanings/196387/6 "2003-08-20T08:25:12Z")
I like slang words like Wicked and Bad which are opposite in meaning to their normal use. This is probably a different phenomenon though. ---
**Author:** ![sotally\_tober](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/46a35a/32.png) [@sotally\_tober](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sotally_tober)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-opposite-meanings/196387/7 "2003-08-20T11:23:09Z")
**AARGH. I just realise the board screwed my post and it didn’t come up at all. Sorry. Here’s my full post:** Are there any words that have many definitions, at least 2 of which that directly contradict each other? I can think of 2 off the top of my head: 1. Cleave (to adhere vs. to tear apart) 2. Moot (irrelevant/having previously been settled vs. controversial/debatable) Are there any more of these? ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-opposite-meanings/196387/8 "2003-08-20T11:39:54Z")
\>\> ‘fast’ - to ‘move fast’ and to be ‘stuck fast’ In nautical terminology to “make fast” is a very common expression meaning to tie or secure. Then, of course, you have “to fasten” meaning “to attach, especially by pinning, tying, or nailing”, “fastener”, etc. I believe the original use of “sanction” was “approve, confirm” and the meaning “penalize” evolved fom that: The penalty was sanctioned, i.e.: after review and consideration the authority sanctioned (confirmed) the penalty. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-opposite-meanings/196387/9 "2003-08-20T11:44:24Z")
Also the verb “dust”, which can mean “to coat with dust”, as in when you dust a cake with icing sugar, or “to remove dust from” as in when you dust a shelf. ---
**Author:** ![Faldage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Faldage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faldage)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-opposite-meanings/196387/10 "2003-08-20T11:45:30Z")
The specific term for words which are their own antonyms is _contranym_. _Cleave_ does not belong to this category; the two meanings derive from two separate words that just happen to be spelled the same in Modern English. The infinitives in Old English were _cleofian_ and _cleofan_. They’re no more the same word than are _polish_ and _Polish_. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-opposite-meanings/196387/11 "2003-08-20T11:45:41Z")
Oh. That was already on green\_bladder’s link. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![sotally\_tober](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/46a35a/32.png) [@sotally\_tober](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sotally_tober)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-opposite-meanings/196387/12 "2003-08-20T12:12:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Faldage \* > \*\*The specific term for words which are their own antonyms is _contranym_. _Cleave_ does not belong to this category; the two meanings derive from two separate words that just happen to be spelled the same in Modern English. The infinitives in Old English were _cleofian_ and _cleofan_. They’re no more the same word than are _polish_ and _Polish_. \*\* I guess it doesn’t matter to me whether they have the same origin or not; just if they have opposite meanings. For example, i hate it if someone used the phrase “it’s a moot point”, because that has 2 meanings - either it’s irrelevant, or it’s a salient point for discussion. It’s very irritating to have to have to decipher a layer of ambiguity. To me, fast and dust don’t count. E.g. dust means to add or remove dust; but it still has to do with ‘dust’. I’m looking for words with more direct opposite meanings, that have different connotations. No matter how one uses dust, or seed, the same connotation ie. the noun dust or seed still remains. In this case, are there words with different meaning with different connotations? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-opposite-meanings/196387/13 "2003-08-20T12:28:40Z")
It’s hardly uncommon for a word to have more than one meaning and more than one connotations. The terms indicate different things – the meaning is the definition, the connotation is the implication between two words of similar definitions. Knowing the connotations of a word is an important skill in writing. For instance, there’s a world of difference calling someone “thrifty” or calling him a “cheap.” ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-opposite-meanings/196387/14 "2003-08-20T12:44:55Z")
Richard Lederer had a chapter on these words in _Crazy English_. If you’re interested in this sort of thing, I highly recommend his works. He called them Janus-face words. He gave about 12 or 16 examples, including most of the ones here so far. His first example was _out_, meaning _visible_ and _invisible_, respectively: The moon is _out_ tonight. The lights in the house are _out_. My favorite was _oversight_, meaning _close attention_ and _lapse of attention_: The project is in good hands due to the foreman’s _oversight_. The project was ruined due to an _oversight_ on the foreman’s part. ---
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-opposite-meanings/196387/15 "2003-08-20T13:37:04Z")
How about the word _impregnable_? In one sense, it means “able to withstand attack.” In another sense, it means “capable of being impregnated.” Not _exactly_ opposite meanings, but close… Barry ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-opposite-meanings/196387/16 "2003-08-20T13:46:07Z")
Raze and Raise are spelled differently but pronounced the same and are opposites. Raze means to tear down and raise can mean to erect. Examples: The Amish family had all the neighbors over last weekend to raise a barn. vs. The Amish family had all the neighbors over last weekend to raze a barn. The meanings of the two sentences are opposite. ---
**Author:** ![biqu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@biqu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biqu)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-opposite-meanings/196387/17 "2003-08-20T14:23:10Z")
[Another list of contronyms, antagonyms, autoantonyms, or Janus words](http://users.tinyonline.co.uk/gswithenbank/cntrnmys.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-opposite-meanings/196387/18 "2003-08-20T14:25:25Z")
One that I’ve been hearing a lot lately is the contradictory use of the verb _to table_ regarding motions or bills in a legislature. Commentators will often say that Representative or MP So-and-so “tabled” a motion, meaning that he submitted it to the legislative body for its consideration. However, in strict parliamentary procedure, to “table” a motion means to set it aside, to _remove_ it from immediate consideration. This is an especially odd contranym, in that it involves not only a word that is used to mean completely opposite things, but is so used within the same context!