For example, "flammable" and "inflammable" both describe an object that can easily catch on fire. I can also think of "ceased" and "deceased", both of which can mean someone or something has been brought to an end.

edit: Some people are including words that can also mean its opposite (like sanction or table), those are cool too! The more weird words, the better!

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[–] 55 points 3 months ago (1 child)

Up and down

“Are you up for that?” “Yeah, I’m down”

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    [–] 48 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (3 children)

    Dust. Dust the shelf, dust the loaf with flour.

    Well, this is the opposite thing (same word meaning opposite) but if you ask me it's the same.

    EDIT: For some that fit better:

    • thaw / unthaw
    • terminate / exterminate
    • valuable / invaluable
    • caregiver / caretaker
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  • [–] 15 points 3 months ago (2 children)

    I think valuable / invaluable actually have different meanings. Something which is invaluable, is so important a value should not be assigned.

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  • [–] 33 points 3 months ago* (13 children)

    Two examples where erroneous usage has resulted in this paradox:

    • Regardless and irregardless

    • "I couldn't care less" and "I could care less"

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  • [–] 15 points 3 months ago (3 children)

    I don't think either were ever said by competently literate people (wtf is "irregardless"? And do they mean they could "care less" about a subject or do they mean the opposite but don't understand negation?) so idk if this fits what OP was saying entirely. They're just obvious mistakes that have been normalized as people got dumber, right?

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    [–] 32 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    "flammable" and "inflammable" both describe an object that can easily catch on fire.

    WHAT A COUNTRY!

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  • [–] 26 points 3 months ago (4 children)

    Literally means either literally or figuratively, and context doesn't really help.

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    [–] 23 points 3 months ago (3 children)

    To bone and to debone both mean to remove bones from something, typically food.

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  • [–] 7 points 3 months ago (1 child)
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    [–] 19 points 3 months ago (3 children)
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    [–] 18 points 3 months ago (2 children)

    This is kinda the opposite to what you are asking: awesome and awful used to mean the same thing IIRC, both being something filling you with awe. Later the meanings split between positive and negative.

    Same with terrible and terrific.

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  • [–] 16 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    Near miss and near hit both mean a close call.

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    [–] 14 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    Sanction can mean a punishment or an authorization.

    Came up in a DND game where a devil's contract said the players crossing the region would be sanctioned, or something like that. Players thought it meant they had permission, fine print said they would be punished.

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  • [–] 14 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    One that sorta works:

    it's all uphill / downhill from here -> it's only going to get worse

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    [–] 13 points 3 months ago (3 children)

    One way mirror and two way mirror

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    [–] 10 points 3 months ago

    Antiautonym is what you're looking for.

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  • [–] 9 points 3 months ago (6 children)

    Garnish can either be an enhancing addition such as in a dish, or to take something away such as garnishing wages.

    You can lease/rent something to a tenant... Or you can lease/rent something from someone.

    The informal definition of "literally" is an exaggeration of something that is not literally true. Inn other words, figuratively.

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    [–] 8 points 3 months ago* (3 children)

    Slightly different, but single words meaning multiple conflicting things seem to come to mind more readily:

    • Drop meaning both to abandon or release a product
    • Table meaning both put something aside or putting up for discussion
    • Literally meaning both literal and figurative
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    [–] 8 points 3 months ago (1 child)
  • [–] 8 points 3 months ago

    The undead are dead.

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  • [–] 8 points 3 months ago*

    In French there is personne (someone) and personne (no one), plus (more) and plus (no more)

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  • [–] 7 points 3 months ago

    Not the original question you asked, but fits in with your edit:

    Priceless and worthless are opposites

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  • [–] 6 points 3 months ago

    I literally can't believe this thread.

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  • [–] 5 points 3 months ago

    For Australians, yeah, yeah nah, yeah yeah nah, nah, nah yeah nah, nah nah yeah, all have subtly different positive and/or negative meanings, often dependent on the situation.

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  • [–] 5 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 child)
    • Restless and Restful.

    • mark and demarcate. I love this one.

    • also, limit and delimit

    • a bit of a stretch but i can imagine someone saying "You're a natural" and "you're a freak" to express someone being abnormally talented at something on their first try.

    "You're a natural at rock climbing. You're a rock climbing freak. A freak at rock climbing."

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  • [–] 5 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    They're called "contranyms". Easy to find examples once you know that

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contronym

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  • [–] 10 points 3 months ago

    No that's different. A contronym is where the same single word has two opposing meaning. OP is asking for two separate words that sounds like they should be opposites but actually have the same meaning, like flammable and inflammable which both mean "can catch on fire".

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  • [–] 5 points 3 months ago

    Yeah, right.

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  • [–] 5 points 3 months ago
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