contronym

noun

con·tro·nym | \ ˈkän-trə-ˌnim

\

variants: or contranym

plural contronyms or contranyms

Definition of contronym

: a word having two meanings that contradict one another Sometimes, just to heighten the confusion, the same word ends up with contradictory meanings. This kind of word is called a contronym. Sanction, for instance, can either signify permission to do something or a measure forbidding it to be done. Cleave can mean cut in half or stick together. A sanguine person is either hotheaded and bloodthirsty or calm and cheerful. Something that is fast is either stuck firmly or moving quickly.— Bill Bryson, The Mother Tongue, 1990

— called also antagonym, autoantonym, Janus word

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about contronym

Dictionary Entries near contronym

control surface

Statistics for contronym

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for contronym

The first known use of contronym was in 1962

See more words from the same year

Comments on contronym

What made you want to look up contronym? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

WORD OF THE DAY

imbroglio

a complex dispute or argument

Test Your Vocabulary

Homophone Quiz

In order to judge how people felt, the senator's office hired a firm to take a ______.

pol pole
poll poal

How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games