"That just doesn't sound right..."

[bolddeciever]

If there isn't yet, I think there should be a name for words that sound to one like they should mean the exact opposite of whatever they mean. The example that immediately comes to mind is "natty," as applied to couture -- perhaps by comparison to similar-sounding words (e.g. nasty, ratty, etc) it has always sounded to me like it should mean

Comments

[sinboy]

Natty can also mean "native" when referring to dreadlocks, says wikipedia.

[shannondawn]

I always felt "benign" should mean something like "crazy". It just has sort of a crazy sound to it, for having such a boring meaning.

[jessruth]

To me, "colloquial" seems like it should mean the opposite of what it actually means.

[kinkyturtle]

I've always thought "victuals" looked and sounded quite unappetizing. It looks too much like "viscera" or "micturate", and its pronunciation ("vittles"), in addition to not properly matching the spelling, is known to me primarily as part of a brand name of cat food. Yeeeuuuck!

[anadamous]

"Crony" doesn't sound very friendly, and "pulchritude" does not seem beautiful at all. And between "comely" and "homely", well, one of them has to be wrong.

[feeldreamlove]

I have a friend who always uses "homely" in place of "homey." It cracks me up every time. I've tried correcting him, but he forgets and I just think it's really endearing and cute now. He'll walk into a room and say "it's really homely in here." :p

[bolddeciever]

Hah, before I read the third sentence, I assumed you meant "homey" as in "short for homeboy..."

"Yeah, jus' hangin' wit my homelies..."

[feeldreamlove]

XD