Contronyms Quiz

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Date:

Instructions: Words that are their own opposites — can you figure out the meanings?

1.
The word 'dust' is a contronym. What are its two opposite meanings?
A
To dry / To wet
B
To remove fine particles / To add fine particles
C
To clean / To dirty
D
To sweep / To mop
2.
The word 'left' is a contronym. How can it have opposite meanings?
A
Departed / Remaining
B
Correct / Wrong
C
A direction / A political view
D
Weak / Strong
3.
How is 'off' a contronym?
A
Far away / Close by
B
Correct / Incorrect
C
Old / New
D
The alarm went off (activated) / Turn the alarm off (deactivated)
4.
The word 'fast' is a contronym. What are its opposite meanings?
A
Moving quickly / Stuck firmly in place
B
Quick / Slow
C
Eating / Not eating
D
Bright / Dark
5.
How is the word 'clip' a contronym?
A
To cut apart / To fasten together
B
To open / To close
C
To run / To walk
D
To speak / To be silent
6.
The word 'sanction' is a contronym. What are its two opposite meanings?
A
To build / To destroy
B
To begin / To end
C
To approve / To penalize
D
To bless / To curse
7.
How is the word 'overlook' a contronym?
A
To approve / To disapprove
B
To look up / To look down
C
To oversee / To undermine
D
To see from above / To fail to notice
8.
The word 'bolt' is a contronym. What are its opposite meanings?
A
To tighten / To loosen
B
To heat / To cool
C
To build / To demolish
D
To secure in place / To flee suddenly
9.
How is the word 'screen' a contronym?
A
To show / To hide
B
To record / To erase
C
To brighten / To darken
D
To enlarge / To shrink
10.
The word 'weather' is a contronym. What are its opposite meanings?
A
To endure / To wear away
B
Sunny / Rainy
C
Hot / Cold
D
Calm / Stormy
11.
How is the word 'buckle' a contronym?
A
To fasten securely / To collapse or give way
B
To agree / To disagree
C
To speak loudly / To whisper
D
To ride / To walk
12.
The word 'cleave' is a contronym. What are its two opposite meanings?
A
To heat / To freeze
B
To praise / To criticize
C
To split apart / To cling to
D
To build / To destroy
13.
How is the word 'garnish' a contronym?
A
To add to (decorate food) / To take away from (garnish wages)
B
To season / To leave bland
C
To serve / To clear away
D
To cook / To serve raw
14.
The word 'rent' is a contronym. What are its opposite meanings?
A
To build / To tear down
B
To buy / To sell
C
To save / To spend
D
To pay to use something / To receive payment for its use
15.
How is the word 'trim' a contronym?
A
To grow / To shrink
B
To open / To close
C
To fill / To empty
D
To cut away / To add decoration to

Answer Key

Question 1

B. To remove fine particles / To add fine particles

'Dust' can mean to remove dust (as in dusting furniture) or to add a fine layer of particles (as in dusting a cake with powdered sugar). The same word, opposite actions!

Question 2

A. Departed / Remaining

'Left' can mean 'departed' (as in 'She left the building') or 'remaining' (as in 'There are two cookies left'). Two completely opposite meanings from the same word.

Question 3

D. The alarm went off (activated) / Turn the alarm off (deactivated)

'Off' can mean activated ('The alarm went off') or deactivated ('Turn the alarm off'). This makes it one of the most confusing contronyms in English.

Question 4

A. Moving quickly / Stuck firmly in place

'Fast' can mean 'moving quickly' (a fast car) or 'stuck firmly in place' (hold fast, colorfast). The 'firmly fixed' meaning is actually the older one, from Old English.

Question 5

A. To cut apart / To fasten together

'Clip' can mean to cut apart (clip a coupon from the newspaper) or to fasten together (clip papers together with a paperclip). Completely opposite actions!

Question 6

C. To approve / To penalize

'Sanction' can mean to give official permission or approval ('The government sanctioned the project') or to impose a penalty ('Economic sanctions were placed on the country').

Question 7

D. To see from above / To fail to notice

'Overlook' can mean to have a view from above ('The balcony overlooks the garden') or to fail to notice ('I overlooked that detail'). Seeing versus not seeing!

Question 8

D. To secure in place / To flee suddenly

'Bolt' can mean to secure something in place ('bolt the door') or to run away suddenly ('the horse bolted'). One meaning keeps things in place, the other involves rapid departure.

Question 9

A. To show / To hide

'Screen' can mean to show or display ('screen a movie') or to hide or protect from view ('screen the porch,' 'screen someone from danger'). Display versus conceal!

Question 10

A. To endure / To wear away

'Weather' can mean to endure or survive ('weather the storm') or to be worn away by exposure ('The rocks were weathered by wind and rain'). Surviving versus deteriorating!

Question 11

A. To fasten securely / To collapse or give way

'Buckle' can mean to fasten securely ('buckle your seatbelt') or to collapse under pressure ('The bridge buckled under the weight'). One holds things together, the other falls apart.

Question 12

C. To split apart / To cling to

'Cleave' can mean to split apart ('cleave the wood with an axe') or to cling to closely ('cleave to one's beliefs'). These opposite meanings come from two different Old English verbs that happened to merge into the same spelling.

Question 13

A. To add to (decorate food) / To take away from (garnish wages)

'Garnish' can mean to add a decorative element ('garnish the plate with parsley') or to take away through legal means ('garnish someone's wages'). Adding versus removing!

Question 14

D. To pay to use something / To receive payment for its use

'Rent' can mean to pay money to use something ('I rent an apartment') or to receive money by allowing someone to use your property ('I rent out my apartment'). Paying versus receiving!

Question 15

D. To cut away / To add decoration to

'Trim' can mean to cut away excess ('trim the hedge') or to add decorative elements ('trim the Christmas tree'). Removing material versus adding ornamentation!

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