counterintuitive
Americanadjective
adjective
-
(of an idea, proposal, etc) seemingly contrary to common sense
-
intelligence collected about enemy espionage
Etymology
Origin of counterintuitive
Explanation
If something is counterintuitive it means it's the opposite of "intuitive" — in other words it's not easily understood in an instinctive, unconscious way. A red light for "go" and a green light for "stop" would be highly counterintuitive, for example. A classic example of the intuitive/counterintuitive divide can be found in computers: today they're so easy to use a toddler can handle them; early ones were so counterintuitive they remained a head-scratching mystery to all but a few techies. Writing tip: note that counterintuitive is one of those words that used to be commonly hyphenated (like "nonetheless" and "secondhand") but is now generally spelled as a single word.
Vocabulary lists containing counterintuitive
Against All Odds: Contra and Counter
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Vocabulary from the Introduction to "Reality is Broken" by Jane McGonigal
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"Marita's Bargain," Vocabulary from the essay
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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.
One of the more counterintuitive costs, he says, is the shoes’ exceptional comfort.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026
Much in the same way Slate was early to formats that would come to dominate digital publishing—explainers, deliberately counterintuitive arguments, chat podcasts—so too were we early progenitors of the internet listicle.
From Slate ● Oct. 7, 2026
He told BBC Scotland News: "It's a bit counterintuitive but extending restrictions is actually a positive thing because it means we've got the ability to move stock freely anywhere in the country now."
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
Here is the part that feels a little counterintuitive: after going to the trouble of deglazing the pot, I often cook everything back down again.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026
The effect of his words was immediate and...absolutely counterintuitive.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
