contranym

English

Alternative forms

• contronym

Etymology

contra- +‎ -nym, coined 1962 by Jack Herring as contronym.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkɒn.tɹə.nɪm/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈkɑn.tɹə.nɪm/

Noun

contranym (plural contranyms)

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

Synonyms

• autoantonym
• antagonym
• Janus word

Translations

a word that has two opposing meanings

• Finnish: kontranyymi
• French: énantiosème (fr) m
• German: Januswort (de) n, Antagonym n, Autoantonym n, Kontranym n

• Hungarian: antagonima, kontronima
• Spanish: autoantónimo m

Related terms

• contronymy, contranymy

See also

• Appendix:English contranyms
• Category:Contranyms by language