Can A Word Be Its Own Opposite?

*Can A Word Be Its Own Opposite?* 

Yes! They are called *Contronyms*—words that are their own antonyms, depending on usage.

Here are a few examples 

 *Dust* :

can mean ‘to add fine particles’ or ‘to remove fine particles’. 

 *Left* :

can mean both

‘remaining’ and ‘departed’.

 *Off* :

can mean both ‘activated’ and ‘deactivated’. 

Eg:- “Set off” - Activated

   “ Switch off - Deactivated

 *Oversight* :

means both ‘watchful care’ and ‘an inadvertent error’. 

 *Screen* :

 can mean both ‘to show’ and ‘to hide’.

*Sanction*

can mean both ‘a penalty for disobeying a law’ and ‘official permission or approval for an action.