contradict

American  

[kon-truh-dikt] / ˌkɒn trəˈdɪkt /

verb (used with object)

1. to assert the contrary or opposite of; deny directly and categorically.

   Synonyms:

   dispute, controvert, impugn, gainsay

   Antonyms:

   support

2. to speak contrary to the assertions of.

   to contradict oneself.

   Synonyms:

   dispute, controvert, impugn, gainsay

3. (of an action or event) to imply a denial of.

   His way of life contradicts his stated principles.

4. Obsolete. to speak or declare against; oppose.

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verb (used without object)

1. to utter a contrary statement.

contradict British  

/ ˌkɒntrəˈdɪkt /

verb

1. (tr) to affirm the opposite of (a proposition, statement, etc)

2. (tr) to declare (a proposition, statement, etc) to be false or incorrect; deny

3. (intr) to be argumentative or contrary

4. (tr) to be inconsistent with (a proposition, theory, etc)

   the facts contradicted his theory

5. (intr) (of two or more facts, principles, etc) to be at variance; be in contradiction

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Related Words

See deny.

Other Word Forms

• contradictable adjective
• contradicter noun
• contradictive adjective
• contradictively adverb
• contradictiveness noun
• contradictor noun
• uncontradictable adjective
• uncontradictably adverb
• uncontradicted adjective
• uncontradictedly adverb

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.

Example Sentences

At that point no one with firsthand knowledge had come forward to contradict Swalwell’s denial of wrongdoing.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

This would appear to contradict directly the statements made during a cabinet meeting held Thursday in which Bessent said “the U.S. oil market is well-supplied.”

From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026

It’s easy to see why McLaughlin believed she could undermine or contradict her agency’s official position in court without consequence.

From Slate • Feb. 18, 2026

“If there is evidence in the files that the DOJ has reviewed, obviously that evidence would contradict her wrong testimony, which would be proof of perjury.”

From Salon • Feb. 12, 2026

He looked around the crowd, as if daring anyone to contradict him.

From "Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two" by Joseph Bruchac

Related Words

• belie
• contravene
• counter
• deny
• differ
• disprove
• negate
• repudiate