Contronyms

[PartTimeBrewer]

I have always been fascinated by contronyms, words that are their own antonyms, meaning they have multiple definitions with opposite meanings. Take the sentence, "Because of the agency's oversight, the corporation's behavior was sanctioned." Oversight and sanction are both contronyms. Oversight can mean supervision or a failure to notice. Sanction can mean to authorize something or penalize it. Does the sentence mean that the agency supervised the company and applied a penalty or because they were inattentive they gave approval?

Name some other examples.

[PartTimeBrewer]

Cleave was always confusing to me. It can mean 1.) to split or sever or 2.) to cling or adhere.

She watched the small boat cleave the waves like a knife cutting through butter.

"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife." Mark 10:7

[officerripley]

Aw you bet me to Cleave; I'll try to think of others, though (I'm sure there are some; language is wonderful but mystifying sometimes).

[Syble]

BOLT down the hatches before we BOLT for the shore to beat that storm BOLTING toward us with those hazardous BOLTS of lightning. 

[Jozee]

Buckle your seat-belt. / Her knees buckled and she fell.

[Syble]

Brace yourself, she's wearing a neck brace. 

[PartTimeBrewer]

Elvis has left the building. The rest of us are left behind.

[Jozee]

The lawyer gave me consult on my case. / I consulted a dictionary.

[James McDonald]

to overlook

to monitor or inspect. 

to fail to notice or choose not to inspect. 

[PartTimeBrewer]

Sanguine: Confidently cheerful, or bloodthirsty