Sunday, October 12, 2025

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Oct 12, 2025): Exceptionally Good

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Oct 12, 2025): Exceptionally Good
Q: Think of a word that means exceptionally good. Add two letters at the end of it to make a word that means the exact opposite. What words are these?
Change the last letter of the original word to three later in the alphabet, then add the same two letters as before. Rearrange to get a word meaning "sway".

24 comments:

  1. If we’re allowed modern slang, I have it.

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  2. I don't like my answer, as one of the words is a contranym; but it fits Blaine's clue

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    1. Rob, what's the difference between an antonym and a contranym? is contranym a real word?

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    2. A contranym has two opposite meanings, like 'cleave'.

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    3. "Contranym" is a real word, and signifies a word that has two meanings, one an opposite of the other. For example, "fast" can mean moving quickly but can also mean stuck firmly in one place.

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  3. A clue citing a specific year would be removed by Blaine.

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    1. I should have said "certain year" rather than "specific year."

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  4. Nearly 900 correct entries last week.

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  5. The answer rearranges to a writer and something he did a lot of.

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  6. No list needed—the first word I tried worked! Blaine's clue confirmed I had the same answer. I initially forgot to add the same two letters, per Blaine's instructions, so I got a word that can mean "study."

    Incidentally, regarding the "exact opposite" part of the puzzle directions: Merriam-Webster doesn't seem to see it that way.

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    1. I think Will said "can mean" on air. That might address your MW comment.

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    2. The MW entry doesn't reflect the "can mean" part. Which is a little odd, because I agree with the "can mean" part of the puzzle.

      As Rob said, the answer seems to be a contronym.

      By the way, the word I found that can mean "study" is some of a contronym. More on Thursday.

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    3. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    4. Wolfgang, I learned that that word is a kind of contronym (which I misspelled above, sorry!) a few years ago -- I'd only known one of the meanings until then, the one sometimes deprecated by cognoscenti. Interesting.

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