antagonym

noun

an·​tag·​o·​nym an-ˈta-gə-ˌnim 

plural antagonyms

: contronym

… I think you've discovered a new antagonym … —a word with two opposite meanings. More familiar examples of antagonyms are cleave, which can mean either "cut apart" or "stick together"; and fast, as in "run fast" versus "hold fast."

—Barbara Wallraff, Times Union (Albany, New York), 18 Nov. 2007

Word History

First Known Use

1999, in the meaning defined above

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