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Contronyms
Writing Tip Wednesdays September 14, 2026
You’ve heard of these:
- homonyms: words having the same spelling but different meanings
(example: “bear: to carry” and “bear: an animal”)
- synonyms: words having the same meaning
(example: “happy” and “joyful”)
- antonyms: word opposite in meaning to each other
(example: “bad” and “good”)
But have you ever heard of contronyms? These are words that are their own antonyms. Below are several examples.
sanction
- to give official permission or approval for
- to impose a penalty on
The President sanctioned sanctioning North Korea.
oversight
- an omission or error due to carelessness
- supervision; watchful care
Because of your oversight, we avoided any oversight.
left
- departed
- remaining
The gentlemen have left and the ladies are left.
fast
- moving rapidly
- fixed, unmoving
The flood waters were fast, but the bridge’s moorings held fast.
buckle
- to bend, warp, or collapse under pressure
- to fasten or secure with a buckle
The fastenings buckled because they weren’t securely buckled.
trim
- to cut off the outgrowths or irregularities of
- to decorate or adorn with ornaments or embellishments
After Dad trimmed the tree, Mom and I trimmed the tree.
weather
- to withstand
- to be worn away
The boulder weathered the storm but was weathered.
continue
- to persist
- to postpone (a legal proceeding)
We could not continue because the hearing was continued.