meaning - Is the term "antagonym" widely used to describe a word that is its own antonym?


There are several words which have contradictory meanings. They may have one meaning now, and have had a different meaning in the past. For example, the current definition of peruse is:



to look over or through in a casual or cursory manner



However, the older definition (which is still included in the Merriam Webster entry) is:



to examine or consider with attention and in detail



Is there a name for these pairs of words which have contradictory meanings? One site names them antagonyms, but is this widely known and used? Or is there another term?



Answer



The only term I'd heard for these was contronym. This site lists both as neologisms for this type of word, but notes that no more established term exists.


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