For example, “flammable” and “inflammable” both describe an object that can easily catch on fire. I can also think of “ceased” and “deceased”, both of which can mean someone or something has been brought to an end.
edit: Some people are including words that can also mean its opposite (like sanction or table), those are cool too! The more weird words, the better!
Up and down
“Are you up for that?” “Yeah, I’m down”
Dust. Dust the shelf, dust the loaf with flour.
Well, this is the opposite thing (same word meaning opposite) but if you ask me it’s the same.
EDIT: For some that fit better:
- thaw / unthaw
- terminate / exterminate
- valuable / invaluable
- caregiver / caretaker
I think valuable / invaluable actually have different meanings. Something which is invaluable, is so important a value should not be assigned.
invaluable would be equivalent to priceless.
Priceless and worthless mean the same
Don’t @ me
Valuable member of society
Invaluable member of society
Neither case leads to a tangible valuation of the member as both have positive meanings. Invaluable is sort of like valuable+1, but both are just invaluable superlatives.
That’s called a contronym, which (as you said) is different than what OP is looking for
Two examples where erroneous usage has resulted in this paradox:
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Regardless and irregardless
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“I couldn’t care less” and “I could care less”
I don’t think either were ever said by competently literate people (wtf is “irregardless”? And do they mean they could “care less” about a subject or do they mean the opposite but don’t understand negation?) so idk if this fits what OP was saying entirely. They’re just obvious mistakes that have been normalized as people got dumber, right?
Irregardless means “without a lack of regard”. Ergo vis-à-vis if you say irregardless you are actually fully regarded
👏😆
People will defend those until they’re blue in the face, and I don’t know why. It’s always the “language is always in a state of flux” bullshit, like improper negations are normal and expected.
Well, I could care less, but I don’t care enough to determine exactly how little I could.
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Literally means either literally or figuratively, and context doesn’t really help.
Literally literally means figuratively, or literally, however figuratively literally only means figuratively.
Now ask a particle scientist
Can’t they are too small and I can only know either where they are or how fast they are.
Really, it’s a way to spot a bad dictionary.
I think the word ‘unironically’ has started to fill the void left behind after the word ‘literally’ was changed to mean ‘figuratively’
And it’s been like that for decades! I only learned this recently. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literally
“flammable” and “inflammable” both describe an object that can easily catch on fire.
WHAT A COUNTRY!
Hi Dr.Nick!
suck and blow
…are opposites
Except on my… Other account.
“Man, that sucks.”
“Man, that blows.”
Those two phrases have identical meanings.
Near miss and near hit both mean a close call.
My pedestrian is half run over.
Sanction can mean a punishment or an authorization.
Came up in a DND game where a devil’s contract said the players crossing the region would be sanctioned, or something like that. Players thought it meant they had permission, fine print said they would be punished.
One that sorta works:
it’s all uphill / downhill from here -> it’s only going to get worse
One way mirror and two way mirror
Antiautonym is what you’re looking for.
In French there is personne (someone) and personne (no one), plus (more) and plus (no more)
Not the original question you asked, but fits in with your edit:
Priceless and worthless are opposites
inflammable and flammable
What a country!
Cleave
