Antagonyms Many words have several definitions, but a few have conflicting definitions and these are called antagonyms (some prefer the label “contronyms.”)  Here’s a look at some of them. act (sincere deed vs. pretend behavior) — The miser’s act of charity was no act this time. anxious (anticipate eagerly vs. await with dread) — Jill was anxious to get married while Jack was anxious about getting married. apparent (obvious vs. not clear) — It was apparent to all, Joe was the apparent loser. assume (actually have vs. hope to have) — At the reading of the will, Zak assumed the role of an assumed heir. avocation (hobby vs. ones regular job) — Upon retirement, Biff’s avocation became his avocation. awful (awe-inspiring vs. extremely unpleasant) — For Mona, an awful sunset did not fix an awful day. bill (something to pay vs. something to pay with) — Bill decided to pay his erotologist’s bill with a hundred dollar bill. bolt (jump away vs. secure) — That horse will bolt from the stable unless you bolt him to the stable. bound (moving vs. unable to move) — Efram was bound for prison where he was bound to a post. buckle(close up vs. fall apart) — When Biff buckled his pants too tight, he groaned and buckled to the floor. bull (a solemn edict vs. nonsense) — The boss issued a bull that was full of bull. can (preserve vs. get rid of) — Marge liked to can fruit nearly as much as she liked to can incompetent employees. citation (commendation vs. court summons) — Policeman Purdy receive a citation for issuing the most citations. cleave (stick together vs. divide) — Seeing that the cheese balls cleaved together, Orville cleaved them with a knife. clip (cut apart vs. put together) — Bonnie would clip the coupons from the newspaper faster than Clyde could clip them together. cool (positive vs. negative) — Mark’s cool website received a cool reception. custom (ordinary vs. special) — It was custom in these parts to have your boots custom made. dust (spread dust on vs. wipe away dust) — First Clive dusted for fingerprints, then dusted the dust. enthrall (delight vs. subjugate) — As master of the plantation, Mason was not enthralled about enthralling anymore. fast (moving rapidly vs. unable to move) — When hungry, Marvin was fast to the table where he sat fast in his chair. fixed (restore to function vs. make non-functional) — Rene fixed the puppy problem by getting the dog fixed. fit (in good shape vs. convulsive behavior) — Rhoda Dendron was thought to be fit until she had a fit. founder (to sink vs. one who establishes) — Funny Foods was bound to founder after the founder died of malnutrition. goods (bad things vs. good things) — The cops had the goods on Moe when they caught him with the goods, grade (level vs. inclined) — They only grade roads that have a steep grade. hysterical (being funny vs. overwhelmed with fear) — When the turkey burst into flames, it was hysterical how you got hysterical. incorporate (establish vs. disappear in union) — Unable to get incorporated, the village of Yo was incorporated into the town of Ko. last (just ending vs. enduring) — Harry’s last drink should last him the whole night. left (gone away vs. remaining) — After the others left the phone booth, only Basil was left. license (permission vs. unbounded freedom) — Marsha didn’t need a license to employ poetic license. livid (red with anger vs. pale, gray-blue) — When Dopey turned livid with anger, Sneezy turned livid with fear. mad (in love with vs. very angry) — I’m mad about you even when I’m mad at you. mean (average vs. superior) — Mason is a man of mean talents who plays a mean game of handball. off (turn off vs. turn on) — Marly had the alarm clock rigged to go off only when the lights were off. overlook (to inspect vs. to neglect) — The window overlooks a garden which is pleasant if you overlook the dead plants. oversight (thing watched vs. thing ignored) — Ellen’s oversight of dinner resulted in an oversight when it came to utensils. peruse (read quickly vs. to read carefully) — First peruse the contract, then really peruse it. practice (attempt to become skillful vs. skillful job) — After much practice with the scalpel, Dr. Bones set up his own practice. presently (now vs. later) — Presently Santa is stuck in the chimney, but he will be here presently. refrain (not do vs. do again, as in a song) — With rap music, please refrain from the refrain. rent (to let vs. to to lease) — Micky would like to rent his house to a man who prefers to rent than own. rock (an immovable thing vs. a tilting movement) — Jason stood like a rock until Millie’s punch made him rock back. sanctioned (approved vs. disappoved) — Merle was sanctioned for cussing during a sanctioned tennis match. screen (display vs. conceal from view) — The censors decided to screen the film “Hardly Coming” behind a screen. seed (remove seeds vs. plant seed) — Pa said, “Let me seed the squash this time and you go seed the fields.” store (keep vs. place to sell) — What antiques I can’t store, I sell at the antique store. struck out (hit vs. miss) — After Casey struck out, he struck out at the umpire. tempered (softened vs. hardened) — Delilah tempered Samson’s tempered strength by means of a shortcut. terrific (wonderful vs. horrible) — Except for his broken arm, Myron felt terrific after his terrific accident. think (believe a truth vs. be uncertain about a fact) — Gail thinks you are an idiot, I think. time (long duration vs. an instance) — Only time will tell if Myrna will ever get to work on time. trim (prune vs. decorate) — After we trim the tree to fit in the living room, we will trim it with trivia. tripped (stepped lightly vs. stumbled) — Saul tripped lightly down the sidewalk until he tripped on a crack. unpeeled (with rind removed vs. still with rind) — You get an unpeeled apple by peeling an unpeeled apple. weathered (worn away vs. beared up well) — Whether the weathered wreck weathered the wind worried Weatherby. wind up (beginning vs. ending) — If you wind up the toy too much it will wind up broken. This entertaining page is just one of the many humorous pages showing how English language words can be fun, often being the center of jokes, witticisms, puns, and jest and bringing smiles if not laughter to the comedian in each of us.