3 ms·

If we take archaic usage into account, there are many more words that now mean the opposite of what they used to mean, e.g. “awesome”.

• injb 7y ago
  When was awesome used to mean bad?
  • vbuwivbiu 7y ago
    they mean that since _everything_ is awesome these days, awesome now means "ordinary"
    • kranner 7y ago
      I didn't meant that at all.
  • kranner 7y ago
    One of the OED meanings is still "appalling, dreadful, weird". I've seen usage meaning the same as "terrifying" in older texts but I can't find an example just now.
• cbfrench 7y ago
  Do you mean “awful”?
  • kranner 7y ago
    No, I meant "awesome" but "awful" is an even better example.
    • injb 7y ago
      "awful" in this context reminds me of this famous story about Charles II (https://quoteinvestigator.com/2012/10/31/st-pauls-cathedral/ https://quoteinvestigator.com/2012/10/31/st-pauls-cathedral/) From the article: "When the excursion was complete the monarch told Wren that the new building was amusing, awful, and artificial. Remarkably, Wren did not feel insulted; instead, he was greatly pleased."