Here’s a fun new term: phantonym. Today’s Friday fare is from Tyrannosaurus Lex: The Marvelous Book of Palindromes, Anagrams, & Other Delightful & Outrageous Wordplay, by Rod L. Evans, Ph.D. (pp. 140-142). I’ve selected several phantonyms to share with you.
Phony Opposites: Phantonyms
A phantonym is a word or phrase that appears to be opposite in meaning to another word or phrase but isn’t.
| ahead | afoot |
| back up | back down |
| badly | goodly |
| breakdown | breakup |
| cargo | bus stop |
| catalog | dogwood |
| coffee | coffer |
| downfall | uprise |
| enrage | outrage |
| famous | infamous |
| forgive | forget |
| founder | loser |
| giveaway | getaway |
| headlights | footlights |
| hereafter | therefore |
| inception | exception |
| inning | outing |
| intend | extend |
| left off | Right on! |
| maternity dress | paternity suit |
| offset | onset |
| outhouse | in-house |
| outgrown | ingrown |
| pair | impair |
| pale | impale |
| shut-out | shut-in |
| undergo | overcome |
| upright | downright |
| walkout | run in |
Kara Church
Technical Editor, Advisory
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Symitar Documentation Services
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