Top 10 English Words that are Considered "Contronyms"

A contronym (also known as an auto-antonym, contranym, antagonym, or Janus word) is a word whose meanings contradict each other.

What's interesting about contronyms is that they are rare in the English language, and their contradictory meanings are often developed in sarcastic or figurative contexts.

You may not realize it, but you have been using contronyms your whole life. This list features some of them, so be prepared to see a few words you may not have realized are actually contronyms.

The Top Ten

  1. Flank

    You'll often hear this word in video games, especially regarding offensive tactics.

    Flank means both to attack something from the sides and to defend the sides from attackers.

  2. Trying

    This word may be unexpected compared to the others, but trying is also considered an adjective that means something stressful to endure.

    The verb, on the other hand, is typically used for making an effort to overcome difficult situations.

  3. Egregious

    If you want to describe something that's so bad that you don't have the proper word for it, "egregious" is your friend.

    In an archaic sense, "egregious" apparently means something that's excellent. It's funny how the word comes from Latin with the same positive meaning but ends up being used in the opposite way in English.

  4. Brainstorm

    You may have heard this word at some point in your life. It's usually used positively when you suddenly find an idea that you think is original.

    However, "brainstorm" also has an opposite meaning: a state of sudden, scrambled thinking.

  5. Sick

    Sick is clearly one of the most frequently used contronyms.

    It can refer to something considered bad, but in informal contexts, it is used to describe something spectacular.

  6. Peruse

    Peruse typically means to inspect something carefully, but in informal contexts, it means to skim over something as if you're quickly scanning a page.

  7. Dust

    The verb "dust" can either mean to sprinkle dust or powder on something or to remove dust from something.

  8. Bomb

    In British slang, bomb is used to describe something successful.

    However, in another slang context, it has an opposite meaning, describing something that ends up as a failure.

    Would you say that the word literally has become one?

  9. Hardly

    This common adverb is considered a contronym that most people don't know of.

    Usually, it means to barely do something or to do something with difficulty, but in an archaic sense, it means to do something harshly.

  10. Left

    Left is another everyday word that can mean both to remain (as an adjective) or to leave (as a verb).

    11. The Newcomers
  11. ?

    Fine

    Fine, as an adjective, generally means impressive, but in an ironic sense, it can mean bad or poor.

  12. ?

    Off

    The fire alarm went off, so we had to shut it off.

    13. The Contenders

  13. Critical

    Critical can either mean something important or something unstable.

  14. Coerce

    Coerce can either mean to restrain someone by force or to use force against someone to prevent something.

  15. Custom

    Custom can either mean something in a normal manner or something meant for special purposes.

  16. Annual

    Happening once every year, but in other meanings, happening for only a year.

  17. Awful

    Usually means very bad, but rarely it can mean impressive or spectacular.

  18. Bad

    Much like awful, but in slang, this means cool.

  19. Hack

    In slang, hack can mean either a convenient solution or an inconvenient/imprecise solution to something.

  20. Scan

    Scan can either mean to inspect something in detail or to look at something quickly.

  21. Factoid

    Factoid can refer to a misconception, yet it can also mean a small (often true) fact.

  22. Aught

  23. Bolt

    Means to connect something with a bolt or to flee from something.

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