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Autantonyms

A list of 163 words by oroboros.

About

Words with mutually exclusive double meanings. Also, here are some:

QUASI-AUTANTONYMS: slow up/slow down; bar/debar; bone/debone; burn up/burn down; fat chance/slim chance; fill in/fill out; loosen/unloosen; ravel/unravel; restive/restless...

PSEUDO-AUTANTONYMS: catwalk/dogtrot; give in/take out; give off,put off/take on; give up,put up/take down; hereafter/therefore; hotheads/cold feet; inning/outing; input/outtake; layout/stand-in; left off/right on!; lowlands/high seas; maternity dress/paternity suit; nighthawk/mourning dove; overlay/understand; sit(-)in/stand out,standout; undergo/overcome; walk-on/run off,runoff; walkout/run(-)in; walk-up/run(-)down...and,

PSEUDO-SYNONYMS: windpower/air force; raindrop/waterfall; Central Time/Middle Ages; tall order/high command

Comments

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  • frindley commented on the list autantonyms

    I have come across three additional terms used in connection with this phenomenon:

    contranym

    antagonym

    enantiodromic

    and also

    antanaclasis – rhetorical device that can make use of autoantonyms, although these two don't:

    "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately." (Benjamin Franklin)

    "Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana." (Groucho Marx)

    April 27, 2008

  • evin290 commented on the list autantonyms

    cleave is contranymic. It can mean to adhere, and it can also mean to sever.

    June 28, 2008

  • mollusque commented on the list autantonyms

    How about demo?

    July 9, 2010

  • ruzuzu commented on the list autantonyms

    The Century Dictionary shows that frank can mean both "unrestrained" (with freedom of movement) and "shut up in a frank or sty."

    August 6, 2010

  • oroboros commented on the list autantonyms

    Interesting, ruzuzu. Thanks, I'll add it.

    August 6, 2010

  • ruzuzu commented on the list autantonyms

    See discussion on shelled.

    December 9, 2010

  • ruzuzu commented on the list autantonyms

    I think cop can mean both policing and stealing.

    January 6, 2011

  • ruzuzu commented on the list autantonyms

    And are you doing foreign languages? I saw aloha--I think the French salut and the Latvian sveiks could go here, too.

    January 6, 2011

  • oroboros commented on the list autantonyms

    Thanks, 'zu. Cop as "Goin' to get all medieval on yo ass."? (Pulp Fiction, I think). :o)

    January 6, 2011

  • ruzuzu commented on the list autantonyms

    You know, I've never seen Pulp Fiction, but that's the third time I've heard it come up in as many days.

    January 6, 2011

  • Prolagus commented on the list autantonyms

    See iroquoisy.

    January 6, 2011

  • ruzuzu commented on the list autantonyms

    You might like tuck-in and tuck-out.

    January 8, 2011

  • oroboros commented on the list autantonyms

    Thanks again, ruzuzu. Tuck-out's new to me. tuck in always meant to sit down and "dig in" to a meal with enthusiastic appetite; didn't realize tuck-out was the same. Course, little Jack Horner tuck-in his thumb and tuck-out a plum, don'tcha know! :o)

    January 8, 2011

  • fbharjo commented on the list autantonyms

    rattle on/rattle off/rattle down - quasi autantonyms

    January 8, 2011

  • ruzuzu commented on the list autantonyms

    See comments on crummy.

    January 12, 2011

  • oroboros commented on the list autantonyms

    Point taken, 'zu. Also fbharjo's. Thanks.

    January 12, 2011

  • ruzuzu commented on the list autantonyms

    And how about pass? You can pass an exam or you can pass on taking an exam.

    January 12, 2011

  • oroboros commented on the list autantonyms

    Yeah, good one. Added.

    January 12, 2011

  • ruzuzu commented on the list autantonyms

    riddle (it also means to unriddle)

    March 10, 2011

  • oroboros commented on the list autantonyms

    Thank'zu, 'zu! :o)

    March 10, 2011

  • mollusque commented on the list autantonyms

    Does citation qualify?

    April 19, 2011

  • oroboros commented on the list autantonyms

    Good one, mollusque. Thanks!

    April 19, 2011

  • linhao commented on the list autantonyms

    inflammable what a interesting word!

    April 7, 2012

  • paper_airplane commented on the list autantonyms

    what about luck out ?

    v. To experience great luck; to be extremely fortunate or lucky.

    v. To have run out of luck.

    or awesome

    August 10, 2012

  • willf commented on the list autantonyms

    What about wrinkle ("A clever trick" or "A problem or imperfection")?

    May 28, 2013

  • danama commented on the list autantonyms

    liege

    1. n. A lord or sovereign to whom allegiance and service are due according to feudal law.

    2. n. A vassal or subject owing allegiance and services to a lord or sovereign under feudal law.

    Does anybody know how liege came to refer to both the sovereign and the subject?

    June 3, 2013

  • danama commented on the list autantonyms

    Close, but not sure they qualify:

    oversight, in that proper oversight should prevent an oversight

    cop, (mixing nouns and verbs) one that enforces the law, an act of law-breaking

    November 22, 2013

  • oroboros commented on the list autantonyms

    Thanks, danama. Those work!

    November 23, 2013

  • rolig commented on the list autantonyms

    Fearful belongs to this list, I think.

    October 28, 2015

  • hrothgarrrr commented on the list autantonyms

    unsparing belongs here! It means both "unmerciful" and "generous".

    November 28, 2016

  • erinmckean commented on the list autantonyms

    what about dabster? It means both 'a skilled person' and 'a bungler'. :)

    August 5, 2017

  • qms commented on the list autantonyms

    See ferial, which means pertaining to a holiday or pertaining to any day of the week which is not a holiday.

    January 2, 2019