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Words like flammable/inflammable, valuable/invaluable, etc.

It doesn't look like there is a specific word to describe this phenomenon.

Arthur
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1 Answers1

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Apparently there is a word for words that are their own opposites. These are called "contronyms". But, I don't believe there is a word for words that "appear" to be opposites but are actually synonymous.

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/contronym

http://mentalfloss.com/article/57032/25-words-are-their-own-opposites

However, each of your examples is not the same either. Flammable and inflammable do mean the same thing. They are actually two different synonymous words that have different origins. They were derived independently from English and Latin word usages.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/flammable-or-inflammable

Valuable and invaluable do not mean the same thing. The former means valuable within an estimation (worth an amount), while the latter means not valuable within any estimation (worth beyond any amount).

https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/invaluable-not-valuable-usage

user22542
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  • I find that in common usage, invaluable is often just overstatement for valuable. The second most common usage for invaluable is like "priceless heirloom", meaning "could fetch about $3.50 at an antique dealer or pawn shop." Just my AmE opinion. I'd give you +2 for contronym if I could. – Patrick M Jul 26 '18 at 16:09