contronym
nounEtymology 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.
1
A word that has two opposing meanings, such as cleave (“stick together” or “split apart”).
- Near-synonym: enantioseme
- Derived terms
- contronymic
- Related terms
- contranymic, contranymy, contronymy, enantiosemy, double negative, skunked term