# Words that mean the opposite of what they are. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 27, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-mean-the-opposite-of-what-they-are/555259 "2010-09-27T19:52:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-mean-the-opposite-of-what-they-are/555259/21 "2010-09-28T01:34:05Z")
Prolix. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-mean-the-opposite-of-what-they-are/555259/22 "2010-09-28T01:34:23Z")
Nonexistent ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-mean-the-opposite-of-what-they-are/555259/23 "2010-09-28T03:46:18Z")
Hemingwayesque. ---
**Author:** ![Parthol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@Parthol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parthol)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-mean-the-opposite-of-what-they-are/555259/24 "2010-09-28T04:56:18Z")
Nonselfdescriptive. Not really a word, but it makes for a fun paradox if you try to apply it to the OP. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-mean-the-opposite-of-what-they-are/555259/25 "2010-09-28T05:28:33Z")
Avocalic. Monomorphemic. Germanic. Verb. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-mean-the-opposite-of-what-they-are/555259/26 "2010-09-28T05:28:47Z")
subtle! Unedited ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-mean-the-opposite-of-what-they-are/555259/27 "2010-09-28T05:47:34Z")
> [@Parthol](#): > > Nonselfdescriptive. > > Not really a word, but it makes for a fun paradox if you try to apply it to the OP. 🙂 Psst, post nr. 6. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Corleone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6bbea6/32.png) [@Michael\_Corleone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Corleone)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-mean-the-opposite-of-what-they-are/555259/28 "2010-09-28T09:45:59Z")
I’m amused when people say ‘sure’, in the context of ‘I’m sure I left my keys there’, or ‘I’m sure I have a meeting this afternoon’. You’re not sure at all … SO STOP USING THE WORD ‘SURE’!!! ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-mean-the-opposite-of-what-they-are/555259/29 "2010-09-28T14:07:27Z")
Ineffable Nonsensical Misspelled Nonverbal Unpronounceable ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-mean-the-opposite-of-what-they-are/555259/30 "2010-09-28T14:11:07Z")
bowderized condensed edited ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-mean-the-opposite-of-what-they-are/555259/31 "2010-09-28T14:17:43Z")
korrekt ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-mean-the-opposite-of-what-they-are/555259/32 "2010-09-28T15:34:24Z")
onomatopoeia ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-mean-the-opposite-of-what-they-are/555259/33 "2010-09-28T15:36:50Z")
> [@](#): > > Miniscule. A common and understandable spelling error. It’s really **minuscule** > **[Definition of MINUSCULE](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minuscule)** > > very small; written in or in the size or style of minuscules… See the full definition > **[Tracking the Most Miniscule, Uh, Minuscule of Errors](https://blog.oup.com/2007/07/spelling/)** > > Ben Zimmer looks at how non-standard spellings become accepted. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-mean-the-opposite-of-what-they-are/555259.md?page=1)