Etymo

antonym

A word whose meaning contrasts with another word.

Played on · Day 55 · word 1 of 5

An opposing name, with a changed use

How antonym reached English

oldest first
  • anti-‘In opposition to’
  • -ōnymos‘Having a name’

combined

  1. Greek

    antōnymía

    ‘Pronoun; interchange of names’

    into French

  2. French

    antonyme / antonymie

    ‘Antonym; opposition of words of contrary sense’

    into English

  3. English

    antonym

    ‘A word of opposite meaning’

The story of antonym

Antonym was borrowed from French antonyme, probably formed back from antonymie on the model of synonyme. Its Greek ancestry combines anti- with -ōnymos.

Anti- also had the sense in place of.

Sources

Also built on Greek -ōnymos

Greek antōnymía had uses involving pronouns and exchanging names before the later contrary-meaning term.

More words from 30 October 2026

  1. sauceA mixture added to a dish for flavour.
  2. fastidiousVery particular or attentive to detail.
  3. schadenfreudeA pleasure connected with someone else’s misfortune.
  4. corianderAn herb whose dried fruits are used as a spice.

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