English Explanatory Dictionary

contronym

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A word that has two opposing meanings, such as cleave (“stick together” or “split apart”).

Word forms

contronym contronyms

Etymology

From contr(a)- + -onym. Coined 1962 by Jack Herring. Note that the vowel of the suffix generally supersedes the vowel of the prefix, hence coined as contronym, rather than contranym.

Synonyms

autoantonym antagonym Janus word enantioseme

Related words

contranym contranymic contranymy contronymy enantiosemy double negative skunked term

Derived words

contronymic
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