English language: same word, exact opposite meanings?

Question

This refers to words such as cleave (be tightly together; & cleave apart): let (allow on one hand, forbid on the other):
fast (move quickly, or stuck fast). Are there any others? And don't say 'sex': different meaning as they are complementary, not opposites, despite common usage.

Answer 1

These are called "contronyms" or "Janus-faced" words.

Here's a list of forty (including the ones you listed) which you'll find in various forms around the internet.

BELOW PAR: a) excellent b) poor
BOLT: a) to secure in place b) to dart away
BUCKLE: a) fasten together b) fall apart
CERTAIN: a) definite b) difficult to specify
CLEAVE: a) separate b) adhere firmly
CLIP: a) fasten b) separate
COMMENCEMENT: a) beginning b) conclusion
CRITICAL: a) opposed b) essential to
DOWN HILL: a) adverse b) easy
DRESS: a) put items on b) remove items from
DUST: a) remove material from b) spread material on
FAST: a) firmly in one place b) rapidly from on place to another
FIX: a) restore b) remove part of
GIVE OUT: a) produce b) stop producing
HANDICAP: a) advantage b) disadvantage
HOLD UP: a) support b) hinder
IMPREGNABLE: a) invulnerable to penetration b) able to be impregnated
KEEP UP: a) continue to fall b) continue to stay up
LEFT: a) departed from b) remaining
MOOT: a) debatable b) not worthy of debate
MORTAL: a) deadly b) subject to death
OUT a) visible b) invisible
OVERSIGHT: a) careful supervision b) neglect
PUT OUT: a) generate b) extinguish
QUALIFIED: a) competent b) limited
SANCTION: a) give approval of b) censure
SCAN: a) examine carefully b) glance at hastily
SCREEN: a) view b) hide from view
SEEDED: a) with seeds b) without seeds
STRIKE: a) secure in place b) remove
TAKE: a) obtain b) offer
TEMPER: a) soften b) strengthen
THINK BETTER: a) admire more b) be suspicious of
TRIM: a) add things to b) cut away
TRIP: a) to stumble b) to move gracefully
UNBENDING: a) rigid b) relaxing
WEAR: a) endure through use b) decay through use
WEATHER: a) withstand b) wear away
WIND UP: a) start b) end
WITH: a) alongside b) against

These appear (many with examples of each use) at one or both of these links:
http://www.theinterpretersfriend.com/misc/humr/eng.html
http://grrrlmeetsworld.com/2003/10/geek-grrrls-rulewarning-english.html

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
English language: same word, exact opposite meanings?
This refers to words such as cleave (be tightly together; & cleave apart): let (allow on one hand, forbid on the other):
fast (move quickly, or stuck fast). Are there any others? And don't say 'sex': different meaning as they are complementary, not opposites, despite common usage.

Answer 3

Correction for the person above: Como= I eat (not to eat)..yo como (I eat) Como= How..Como estas (how are you) But it does not mean "like". Now to answer your question, I see no advantage, it just confuses most who want to learn it. I mean, how the hell do you explain to a student why a simple word like "como" has two completely different meanings to it?

Answer 4

Movement - as in the sweet sounds of the first movement of Mozart's Symphony No. 41 "The Jupiter Symphony.
or
Movement - as in the bitter smell of a bowel movement.

Answer 5

Award

You can be awarded something good like a prize, honour or pay increase or you can be awarded a jail term

Answer 6

Check homographs. Not exactly what you are looking for but should provide some fun.

Answer 7

climb...

usually we associate the word "climb" as going upward... when in fact it can also be use when doing downward.

Answer 8

You can use the word stop in two ways. 'Are you stopping?' - 'are you staying here'? or 'Are you stopping?' - 'Are you ceasing to continue?'

Answer 9

pole
as in negative and positive (think magnets)

Answer 10

Raise;
to lift something higher or
to "raise" a building to the ground when demolishing.