Common Thread

What do the following words have in common?

• dust
• seed
• left
• resign
• weather
• sanction

Click below to see the answer.

Each word has at least two meanings, and in each case one of those meanings is the opposite of the other.

• dust - as a verb can mean either to add or remove something.
• seed - also means either to add or remove something. If you seed the lawn you add seeds, but if you seed a tomato you remove them.
• left - can mean either remaining or departed.
• resign - can mean "to quit" but can also mean "to sign up again."
• weather - can mean "to withstand or make through" (weather the storm) or can mean "to be worn away."
• sanction - can mean 'give official permission or approval for (an action)' or conversely, 'impose a penalty on.'

For these and more, see the Mental Floss article 25 Words That Are Their Own Opposites.