Introducing contronyms

Synonyms are words that mean similar things. Antonyms are words that mean opposite things. But the English language also has contronyms – words and phrases that are their own opposite! That’s right, they have opposite or contradictory meanings depending on the context in which they are being used. Here are some examples:

Bolt: To secure, or to flee
Bound: Heading to a destination, or restrained from movement
Buckle: To connect, or to break or collapse
Consult: To offer advice, or to obtain it
Custom: A common practice, or a special treatment
Dust: To add fine particles, or to remove them
Fast: Quick, or stuck
Fine: Excellent, or acceptable
First degree: Most severe in the case of a murder charge, or least severe in reference to a burn
Flog: To promote persistently, or to criticise
Garnish: To furnish, as with food preparation, or to take away, as with wages
Handicap: An advantage provided to ensure equality, or a disadvantage that prevents equal achievement
Hold up: To support, or to impede
Left: Remained, or departed
Let: Allowed, or hindered
Literally: Actually, or virtually
Model: An exemplar, or a copy
Off: Deactivated, or activated, as an alarm
Out: Visible, as with stars showing in the sky, or invisible, in reference to lights
Oversight: Monitoring, or failing to oversee
Puzzle: A problem, or to solve one
Refrain: To desist from doing something, or to repeat
Rent: To purchase use of something, or to sell use
Sanction: To approve, or to boycott
Screen: To present, or to conceal
Skin: To cover, or to remove
Splice: To join, or to separate
Temper: To soften, or to strengthen
Throw out: To dispose of, or to present for consideration

Transparent: Invisible, or obvious
Trip: A journey, or a stumble
Wear: To endure, or to deteriorate
Weather: To withstand, or to wear away
Wind up: To end, or to start up

Can you think of any more?