Words that sounds as if they mean the opposite

[CormoranStrike]

Sometimes words are just perfect - purring is exactly right for a cat, for example.

But some are so wrong. bucolic, meaning a beautiful countryside, sounds to me like something sickly and ill.

Any others?

@Raaarrrrrrrr

I never understood the less speed, more haste saying.

Also do you itch a scratch or scratch an itch?

If you think of running with a box of apples and you have to keep stopping to pick them up because they are falling off, but if you walk normally they don't fall off and you'll get there quicker.

That's how our teacher explained it.

@JoborPlay

Flammable and inflammable meaning the same thing - downright dangerous.

That's actually incorrect, they don't mean the same thing- flammable means can set fire to, inflammable means doesn't need an ignition.

Right. So both things that will go up in the flames (unlike, I dunno, say, water? ). In the context of this particular thread - one being a word, and the other have ‘in’ in front of it, usually suggests the opposite. Anyway - not going to argue about it.

@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams

Limpid. We used to be read the Just So stories, and one talks about the "great green-grey greasy Limpopo".

In my head I've confused limpid and Limpopo so have to really think to remember that limpid means clear — I think of it as silty and greasy.

I thought it meant withered and droopy

Nadir sounds to me like it should be the highest point, rather than the lowest.

Chronic and Acute - always thought that chronic sounds worse and acute well less so but it's the opposite 🤷‍♀️

Disinterested-sounds like it should mean uninterested

Gruntled.

Maybe because it has the word grunt in it?!

Chuffed.

To me it sounds like it means annoyed.

I also get ridiculously confused and which way round "the two aren't mutually exclusive" means.

I have never been able to work out what the American word doozy (SP?) means. As used in sports commentary, is it good or bad? Hard or easy?

A 'near miss'. It sounds to me like 'Oops, I nearly missed it!'.

@Raaarrrrrrrr

Well your problem there us you've got the saying arse about face.

It's "More haste, less speed"

i.e the quicker you try and do something, the likelihood is that you will screw it up and need to do it again.

@kittenkipping

Sorry didn't explain- but to me, nonplussed sounds ambivalent, completely not fazed- certainly doesn't look like it means completely surprised and unsure of how to react

@kittenkipping I think you've inadvertently pointed out another. Lots of people think ambivalent sounds like it means laid back or lacking in feeling and use it this way when it doesn't meant that at all. It means having completely mixed feelings or holding contradictory feelings at the same time.

Pulchritude should not mean beautiful!

@tomorrowalready

I have never been able to work out what the American word doozy (SP?) means. As used in sports commentary, is it good or bad? Hard or easy?

Yes I want to know this too and Google isn't any help

Vindicate.

I always feel it means proved guilty. Don't know why, have to pause and remind myself of the actual meaning is the opposite.

Exactly, Franipani, I have looked it up several times and it seems to mean what the speaker means it to mean.

Dictionary
doozy
/ˈduːzi/ something outstanding or unique of its kind.
"it's gonna be a doozy of a black eye"

Origin
early 20th century: of unknown origin.
Translate doozy to
Use over time for: doozy
Definitions from Oxford Languages
"Doozy" is often used to mean "troublesome" or "problematic," but it can also be used with a positive meaning. It means "extraordinary."

And the way I have heard American speakers say it, in a warm neutral tone, has been no help - it could have meant total disapproval or mild agreement. I am trying to think of a British English equivalent but my brain has gone dead.

@EishetChayil

Pulchritude should not mean beautiful!

An ugly word for a beautiful thing, sounds like the speaker is going to vomit.

I always thought diaphonous meant floaty, drift in the breeze sort of thing so when a friend commented on my diaphonous skirt one hot summer's day sometime last century, I was quite gruntled. Public comment revealed the true meaning as see through. What the linguist's call a false friend. If only we all kept up our Greek.

I also have problems with mutually exclusive.

And disinterested is very often used incorrectly to mean "uninterested" when it doesn't mean that at all.

Reactionary meaning opposing political reform or change, always sounds like the opposite to me

Sanction - means a punishment AND an approval - very confusing!

@Brcaml

Chronic and Acute - always thought that chronic sounds worse and acute well less so but it's the opposite 🤷‍♀️

that depends.

I'd rather have acute pain in my shoulders that goes away soon, than the chronic pain I've had for 2.5y!

My daughter can't get her head around the meanings of "public school" and "private school". In her defence you would think they are the opposite from each other!

@tomorrowalready

Exactly, Franipani, I have looked it up several times and it seems to mean what the speaker means it to mean.

Dictionary
doozy
/ˈduːzi/ something outstanding or unique of its kind.
"it's gonna be a doozy of a black eye"

Origin
early 20th century: of unknown origin.
Translate doozy to
Use over time for: doozy
Definitions from Oxford Languages
"Doozy" is often used to mean "troublesome" or "problematic," but it can also be used with a positive meaning. It means "extraordinary."

And the way I have heard American speakers say it, in a warm neutral tone, has been no help - it could have meant total disapproval or mild agreement. I am trying to think of a British English equivalent but my brain has gone dead.

I think the equivalent is ‘one hell of a…’