contradict
Americanverb (used with object)
-
contradicts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
contradicted,
past participle, past
-
contradicting
present participle
-
to assert the contrary or opposite of; deny directly and categorically.
- Synonyms:
- dispute, controvert, impugn, gainsay
- Antonyms:
- support
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to speak contrary to the assertions of.
to contradict oneself.
- Synonyms:
- dispute, controvert, impugn, gainsay
-
(of an action or event) to imply a denial of.
His way of life contradicts his stated principles.
-
Obsolete. to speak or declare against; oppose.
verb (used without object)
-
contradicts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
contradicted,
past participle, past
-
contradicting
present participle
verb
-
(tr) to affirm the opposite of (a proposition, statement, etc)
-
(tr) to declare (a proposition, statement, etc) to be false or incorrect; deny
-
(intr) to be argumentative or contrary
-
(tr) to be inconsistent with (a proposition, theory, etc)
the facts contradicted his theory
-
(intr) (of two or more facts, principles, etc) to be at variance; be in contradiction
Synonym Usage
See deny.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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contradicternoun
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contradictivenessnoun
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contradictornoun
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contradictableadjective
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contradictiveadjective
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uncontradictableadjective
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uncontradictedadjective
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contradictivelyadverb
-
uncontradictablyadverb
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uncontradictedlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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contradictsimple
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contradictssimple
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have contradictedperfect
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has contradictedperfect
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am contradictingprogressive
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are contradictingprogressive
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is contradictingprogressive
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have been contradictingperfect progressive
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has been contradictingperfect progressive
Past
-
contradictedsimple
-
had contradictedperfect
-
was contradictingprogressive
-
were contradictingprogressive
-
had been contradictingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of contradict
First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin contrādictus “spoken against,” past participle of contrādīcere “to gainsay, speak against,” from contrā- contra- 1 ( def. ) + dīcere “to say, speak, tell”
Explanation
"Contra-" usually means "against," and to contradict is to go against or say the opposite of what someone else is doing or saying. Sometimes to contradict is to frustrate with words, like when one person says "The sky is blue" and another says "No, it's azure." Denying or distorting the truth is a big part of trying to contradict. It can be harmless verbal back-and-forth, like when a husband and wife disagree just to disagree, or contradict each other to make a humorous point, but at other times people contradict something to make another person look like a liar. Often, a person who has lied will later contradict himself by saying something different from what he said earlier — and sometimes the two sides contradict each other, and neither is actually right.
Vocabulary lists containing contradict
The Language of Standardized Tests, List 1
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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 1–6
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The Sussexes said they didn’t sign off on the letter, which appeared to contradict Buckingham Palace.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
Werb argued that "outside support does not necessarily contradict the bloc's sovereigntist stance".
From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026
Robles told parliament that agents of the CNI intelligence service had shared information about a possible imminent migrant crossing with security forces shortly before it happened, but Grande-Marlaska appeared to contradict her.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
Now, 12 years and many political lifetimes later, they read as quaint and out-of-touch, like a grandfather telling his grandson to never contradict his betters.
From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026
I knew she was expecting me to contradict Momma, but I wasn’t going to.
From "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson
The 1958 Group's allegation, which has been voiced by other fan groups, contradicts United's own comments on Friday that state they did advise fans what they were being accused of.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
What’s absolutely fascinating, and totally on-brand, is how Marsh contradicts, criticizes and updates himself between the various books.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
This contradicts recent theories of some analysts that the capacity expansion by the likes of SK Hynix might lead to oversupply and lower prices.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026
But a return to war also contradicts positions he has publicly taken against open-ended conflict.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
Class contradicts their assumptions about the American dream, equal opportunity, and the reasons for their own successes and even failures.
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
The advisers’ positive outlook, however, was somewhat contradicted by their concern regarding specific policy risks.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
That was disputed by Arkady Dvorkovich, who told the BBC in written answers, that "accusations about 'Russian influence' are false and contradicted by how Fide is governed."
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
She danced and sinned and regretted and atoned, and then contradicted herself by doing it all over again.
From Salon ● Jul. 8, 2026
The “Low Beta Anomaly” was first discovered in the 1970s and contradicted a bedrock stock-pricing model.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026
“No, I don’t,” he contradicted, “and you can’t make me.”
From "Ralph S. Mouse" by Beverly Cleary
The video evidence contradicting his claim was only made available, confidentially, to the court a year later - and placed on the public docket on 4 September this year.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026
A former employee testified on Wednesday that some of Meta's safety tools for Facebook and Instagram were "designed to fail," contradicting the company's defense strategy in a landmark trial in California.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
County prosecutor, accused Hochman of contradicting himself, questioning the D.A.’s efforts to justify the officers’ coarse language.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
That decision, cutting short the process and contradicting his earlier assurances of due process, shocked Mr. Khan’s own staff.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 9, 2026
Its editors decided that contradicting the beliefs of prominent citizens was a risk they shouldn’t take.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
