CONTRONYMS V

Each word or phrase below is a contronym. That is, it can have two opposite or nearly opposite meanings. For example, SCREEN can mean to show something (like a movie) or to conceal it (screen from view). Can you think of the two contrary meanings of each word or phrase below?

1. SEED

2. DUST

3. CLIP

4. TRIM

5. FAST

6. PEER

7. WEATHER

8. CONTINUE

9. TOSS OUT

10. HOLD UP

 

Answers:

 

1. SEED - Add or remove seed(s)

2. DUST - Sprinkle on or wipe away  

3. CLIP - Fasten together or cut off or out

4. TRIM - Cut away (as fat) or add decorations

5. FAST - Moving quickly or not at all

6. PEER - Person like yourself or British nobility 

7. WEATHER - Withstand or wear away 

8. CONTINUE - Keep going or stop for a time (as a trial) 

9. TOSS OUT - Suggest or discard

10. HOLD UP - Support or hinder 

 

 

CONTRONYMS IV

Contronyms, or auto-antonyms, are self-contradictory words like CLEAVE and SANCTION.

Can you think of a word that could mean either  ....................

1. To fasten together or to collapse
2. A loving tie or a military battle
3. Getting easier or getting worse
4. Slightly or exceedingly
5. Activate or de-activate
6. Show or conceal

Answers:

1. BUCKLE
2. ENGAGEMENT
3. DOWNHILL
4. QUITE (quite nice - quite out of the question) 
5. OFF (The alarm went off. I turned it off.)
6. SCREEN

CONTRONYMS III

Contronyms or auto-antonyms, are self-contradictory words like CLEAVE and SANCTION.

1. Can you think of a word that could mean either an order to do something or an order not to do something?

2. Can you think of an expression which is widely used to describe the rich and famous, but actually means the common people?

3. Can you think of a word that means both to read very carefully and to read in an easy, relaxed way?

Answers:

1. INJUNCTION - as a court order to stop or require a certain action - also the Biblical injunction that a man marry his deceased brother's wife

2. HOI POLLOI 

3. PERUSE

CONTRONYMS III

Contronyms are self-contradicting words, or auto-antonyms. There are thousands of words in English that have more than one meaning (homographs). But a contronym is a single word that has two opposite meanings. SANCTION, for example, can mean both to approve and to condemn.

Can you determine the word or phrase that can satisfy both definitions below?

1. Harden or soften
2. Harm or help
3. Die or begin
4. Hello or farewell
5. Solemn promise or profane words
6. To have "watchdog" responsibility or a failure to be watchful and responsible

Answers:

1. Temper
2. Fix
3. Kick off 
4. Aloha / Shalom / Ave
5. Oath
6. Oversight

CONTRONYMS II

NY Times Crossword
February 28, 2008
Matt Ginsberg

Can you think of a single word that satisfies both definitions:

1. Confirmation or uncertainty
2. Approve or penalize
3. Unchanged or novel
4. Easy to see or impossible to see
5. Hold up with use or deteriorate with use
6. Remaining or gone
7. Add to or remove from
8. Move gracefully or move clumsily
9. Cling to and separate

Answers:

1. Reservation
2. Sanction
3. Original
4. Transparent
5. Wear 
6. Left
7. Trim
8. Trip
9. Cleave

CONTRONYMS I
Credit: GAMES Magazine - May/June 1981
Salute to Word Ways
Richard Lederer

SANCTION and CLEAVE are examples of rare words that have contradictory meanings. Sanction can mean both to approve and to condemn. Cleave can mean both to cling to and to separate. Can you identify these seven other self-contradictory words and expressions from their meanings?

1. To endure use well and to deteriorate through use
2. To inspect and to fail to inspect
3. To bring to a conclusion and to start, as a watch
4. To soften and to toughen or make stronger
5. To cut off and to add on, or embellish
6. To fasten and to cut or separate
7. To sprinkle onto, as a powder and to remove a powdery layer

HINTS:
1. As in clothing
5. As a Christmas tree
6. As a newspaper coupon

Answers:

1. WEAR (wear well - wear out)
2. OVERLOOK
3. WIND UP
4. TEMPER
5. TRIM
6. CLIP
7. DUST

NOTE: see also CAN'T MAKE UP MY MIND - Posted 1/22/12

CAN'T MAKE UP MY MIND

The following words share a very unusual quality. Can you determine what it is?

SANCTION

CLEAVE

BOUND

BOLT
MOOT
DUST
LEFT
CONSTRAINED

Answers:

They are all self-contradicting words - Auto-antonyms or Contronyms.

SANCTION means both to approve and condemn. CLEAVE means both to separate and adhere. BOUND means both to leap and tie down. BOLT means both to fasten securely and to run away. MOOT mean both worthy of consideration, as in debate, and unworthy of consideration or debate because the issue has been resolved or doesn't need to be resolved. DUST means both to remove dust and to sprinkle dust onto. LEFT means both gone and remaining. CONSTRAINED means both to feel forced to do something and also not to do something.