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!
Not the original question you asked, but fits in with your edit:
Priceless and worthless are opposites
In French there is personne (someone) and personne (no one), plus (more) and plus (no more)
Garnish can either be an enhancing addition such as in a dish, or to take something away such as garnishing wages.
You can lease/rent something to a tenant… Or you can lease/rent something from someone.
The informal definition of “literally” is an exaggeration of something that is not literally true. Inn other words, figuratively.
“I’m garnishing my bank account with your wages.”
Your lease/rent example both have the same meaning.
And the “literal” issue is in the last 20 years from maroons using it incorrectly.
You say “literally” to me and I’m taking you at your word.
There are examples of “literally” being used figuratively as far back as 1769.
maroons using it incorrectly.
I didn’t know shades of red spoke English.
Also, can you elaborate on how the lease/rent examples mean the same thing? Because Merriam Webster defines them as two opposite things.
Maybe you just meant that they’re the same word, so even though they mean opposite things, they don’t fit OP’s question?
Rent and lease are not opposite. They mean the same thing in both contexts and describe both sides of the relationship.
The first definition means the same thing for both words. The second definition also means the same thing for both words.
Yeah, right.
One way mirror and two way mirror
Is a two-way mirror a window? Or just a mirror? I don’t believe I’ve ever heard þe term.
Do you just get stalked by downvote bots or something?
Dunno. I don’t pay much attention to vote scores.
Up and down
“Are you up for that?” “Yeah, I’m down”
“Are you down for that?” “Yeah, I’m up”
Antiautonym is what you’re looking for.
They’re called “contranyms”. Easy to find examples once you know that
No that’s different. A contronym is where the same single word has two opposing meaning. OP is asking for two separate words that sounds like they should be opposites but actually have the same meaning, like flammable and inflammable which both mean “can catch on fire”.
inflammable and flammable
What a country!
Ravel and unravel can both mean to take apart something that was knitted or woven.
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Restless and Restful.
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mark and demarcate. I love this one.
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also, limit and delimit
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a bit of a stretch but i can imagine someone saying “You’re a natural” and “you’re a freak” to express someone being abnormally talented at something on their first try.
“You’re a natural at rock climbing. You’re a rock climbing freak. A freak at rock climbing.”
While checking words that might work here i was reminded of this annoying trio:
- Allude
- Elude
- Illude
They mean, respectively:
- to suggest something
- to escape or avoid something or someone
- to lie or deceive
also elucidate more common in scientific works,foreshadowing.
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I literally can’t believe this thread.
One that sorta works:
it’s all uphill / downhill from here -> it’s only going to get worse
Cleave
“flammable” and “inflammable” both describe an object that can easily catch on fire.
WHAT A COUNTRY!
Hi Dr.Nick!
