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enantiosemy
A linguistic phenomenon whereby a word constitutes its own antonym depending on context. English, being widely spoken and/or occasionally mangled in the United States and recalcitrant parts of the commonwealth (i.e., Canada), features many enantiosemic words, including inflammable, nonplussed, and restive (with the latter meaning "impatient and fidgety" when applied to people and, owing to its French roots, "stubbornly refusing to move" when applied to horses).
From Gr. enantios ("opposite") + semasia ("meaning").
From Gr. enantios ("opposite") + semasia ("meaning").
Gord: HOW DO MOUNTIES MANAGE TO BE NONPLUSSED ALL THE TIME, ANYWAY? THERE ARE GUYS WITH RACCOONS IN THEIR JACKETS AND STUFF—
Nigel: Actually, its prefix notwithstanding, and despite plussed's non-status as a word, "nonplussed" means the opposite of what it's commonly thought to mean.
Gord, nonplussed: OKAY, SO WE'RE TALKING ENANTIOSEMY, BUT LOOK, THE HORSE IS RESTIVE, AREN'T YA, BUD?
RCMP Thoroughbred: <snorts and offers an impregnable stare>
Inflammable means flammable? What a country! What enantiosemy!
―Dr. Nick Riviera, whose doctorate is in linguistics, not medicine
Nigel: Actually, its prefix notwithstanding, and despite plussed's non-status as a word, "nonplussed" means the opposite of what it's commonly thought to mean.
Gord, nonplussed: OKAY, SO WE'RE TALKING ENANTIOSEMY, BUT LOOK, THE HORSE IS RESTIVE, AREN'T YA, BUD?
RCMP Thoroughbred: <snorts and offers an impregnable stare>
Inflammable means flammable? What a country! What enantiosemy!
―Dr. Nick Riviera, whose doctorate is in linguistics, not medicine
enantiosemy by DrSJohnson November 26, 2019
Related Words
Enantiodromia
The tendency of creating the opposite effect when you go to far to one side of any duality. Example: Always choosing the easy option will make things harder for you in the long run.
Enantiodromia by anonymous August 6, 2025
enantiorhyme
enantiorhyme (noun)
/ɪˌnæn.ti.oʊˈraɪm/
Definition:
A pair of words that rhyme and have opposite meanings (i.e., are antonyms).
Example:
“Cheer” and “jeer” form an enantiorhyme.
“Raise” and “raze” form another.
/ɪˌnæn.ti.oʊˈraɪm/
Definition:
A pair of words that rhyme and have opposite meanings (i.e., are antonyms).
Example:
“Cheer” and “jeer” form an enantiorhyme.
“Raise” and “raze” form another.
enantiorhyme by Nugget0’nuggs April 18, 2026
More from Urban Dictionary
WhimZ
Frothability
The measure of an emotional and over zealous consumer in an upwardly charging market, also known as a bull market. It's characterized by rising asset prices, increased investor confidence, and favorable growth in the markets, bro.
The frothability was evident as over-zealous consumers eagerly engaged in bidding wars, driving property prices to unsustainable levels reminiscent of previous speculative bubbles.
Frothability by cptn.kagaroo1 January 26, 2024
Word of the Day on November 12, 2026
Soul digger
A man who dates women with the sole purpose of exploiting their time, energy, and labor while he sucks the joy and happiness from their lives.
"That guy's a soul digger. He'll expect you to work full time, but you'll be doing all the cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping, and childcare while he plays video games or watches TV."
Soul digger by anonymous November 11, 2026
Word of the Day on November 11, 2026
pod person
A person pretending to be something they aren't, or an impostor. This is inferred because of the old alien movies where alien pods appear on earth and the "pod people" dispose of the humans and slowly reproduce the bodies, pretending to be humans.
The pod person was pretending to be my father, but I knew that he was an alien when he acted differently than my father ever would have.
pod person by Christopher M. May 9, 2005
Word of the Day on November 10, 2026
dead drop
A dead drop is a location used to secretly pass items between two people, without requiring them to meet.
Spies have been known to use dead drops, using various techniques to hide the items and to signal that the drop has been made. Drug dealers use this as well.
A common place is to duct tape the item to the underside of a toilet cover in a public restroom.
A signal is sometimes used as well to indicate there is something to pickup, like a pile of stones in a certain formation. After checking the drop the signal is removed.
Spies have been known to use dead drops, using various techniques to hide the items and to signal that the drop has been made. Drug dealers use this as well.
A common place is to duct tape the item to the underside of a toilet cover in a public restroom.
A signal is sometimes used as well to indicate there is something to pickup, like a pile of stones in a certain formation. After checking the drop the signal is removed.
"The dead drop is the restroom toilet at the Gulf station at the corner of Commercial Ave. and Georges Rd."
dead drop by rubberroom July 23, 2008
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No Surprises Wedding
A "No Surprises Wedding," or NSW, is a wedding invitation designation that tells attendees that there can be no unplanned announcements, engagements, events or speeches at the wedding - all actions must be pre-approved by the couple. Anyone who performs an unapproved "surprise" will be asked to leave the wedding early.
This designation comes from Reddit, where so many stories of bad wedding behavior indicated a need to communicate expectations for the wedding behavior of attendees.
This designation comes from Reddit, where so many stories of bad wedding behavior indicated a need to communicate expectations for the wedding behavior of attendees.
You are cordially invited to the nuptials of Brian and Tom on October 31 at noon.
Please note that this wedding is child-free (under 10) and a No Surprises Wedding (NSW). Reach out to wedding planner Sami Smith to request approvals or exceptions; please note that exceptions will be rare. Limited child care for under-10s will be available. All approvals will be noted and included in planning. Unapproved, or surprise exceptions, will result in guests being asked to leave.
Please note that this wedding is child-free (under 10) and a No Surprises Wedding (NSW). Reach out to wedding planner Sami Smith to request approvals or exceptions; please note that exceptions will be rare. Limited child care for under-10s will be available. All approvals will be noted and included in planning. Unapproved, or surprise exceptions, will result in guests being asked to leave.
No Surprises Wedding by dbdefenestrate August 27, 2023
Word of the Day on November 8, 2026