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Catachreses

Meaning

the use of a word in a way that is not correct, a semantic misuse or error. From Greek κατάχρησις, “abuse”, κάτα (down) + χρῆσθαι (to use, employ), singular “catachresis”

Also know as phantonyms or misnomers

Examples

  • “lest” for “unless”
  • “mitigate” for “militate”
  • “travesty” for “tragedy”