contradiction

[ kon-truh-dik-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of contradicting; gainsaying or opposition.
2. assertion of the contrary or opposite; denial.
3. a statement or proposition that contradicts or denies another or itself and is logically incongruous.
4. direct opposition between things compared; inconsistency.
5. a contradictory act, fact, etc.

contradiction

/ ˌkɒntrəˈdɪkʃən /

noun

1. the act of going against; opposition; denial
2. a declaration of the opposite or contrary
3. a statement that is at variance with itself (often in the phrase a contradiction in terms )
4. conflict or inconsistency, as between events, qualities, etc
5. a person or thing containing conflicting qualities
6. logic a statement that is false under all circumstances; necessary falsehood

Other Words From

• inter·contra·diction noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of contradiction¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English contradiccioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin contrādictiōn-, stem of contrādictiō “counterargument, objection, reply”; equivalent to contradict + -ion

Example Sentences

These days, his emails have homed in on the contradictions of covid-19 health orders.

From MIT Technology Review

Just remember, Google is also an emerging technology, and a lot of what it’s doing in the algorithm stands in contradiction to the full-on adoption of AI written content.

From Search Engine Watch

Pack hired two Washington firms, McGuireWoods and Caplin & Drysdale — apparently in contradiction to federal contracting regulations and guidelines, according to internal documents.

From Washington Post

Takeuchi doesn’t see a contradiction with the county’s withholding of outbreak data, on the one hand, and the sharing of home addresses with law enforcement, on the other.

From Voice of San Diego

The contradiction is more apparent as, over a lifetime, one expects to shift from role to role.

From Washington Post

This may seem like a contradiction, if “conservative” means political conservatism.

From The Daily Beast

On some level, Brecht meant for Mother Courage to be an ambivalent figure—he called her “a great living contradiction.”

From The Daily Beast

And an inherent contradiction within the Sunni coalition could well trigger a breakup in the longer term.

From The Daily Beast

Indeed, the very idea of a same-sex marriage seemed to most people a contradiction in terms.

From The Daily Beast

He laughs at the unintentional contradiction of that statement.

From The Daily Beast

But all of this is in contradiction to the curses of Jahveh on the serpent, and on those to whom the serpent brought wisdom.

From Project Gutenberg

This established beyond contradiction, the general equality of men.

From Project Gutenberg

I found here a contradiction to the vulgar opinion, that hydrophobia is not known in Brazil.

From Project Gutenberg

On the fourth of October was put forth a vehement contradiction of the story.

From Project Gutenberg

Her wanting me to lend her money in contradiction to all rules established between Aunts and Nephews is a very ugly circumstance.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• conflict
• difference
• disagreement
• discrepancy
• dispute
• inconsistency