contradictory

American  

[kon-truh-dik-tuh-ree] / ˌkɒn trəˈdɪk tə ri /

adjective

1. asserting the contrary or opposite; contradicting; inconsistent; logically opposite.

   contradictory statements.

   Synonyms:

   paradoxical, irreconcilable

2. tending or inclined to contradict.

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noun

contradictories plural

1. Logic. a proposition so related to a second that it is impossible for both to be true or both to be false.

contradictory British  

/ ˌkɒntrəˈdɪktərɪ /

adjective

1. inconsistent; incompatible

2. given to argument and contention

   a contradictory person

3. logic (of a pair of statements) unable both to be true or both to be false under the same circumstances Compare contrary subcontrary

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noun

1. logic a statement that cannot be true when a given statement is true or false when it is false

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• contradictoriness
  noun
• intercontradictory
  adjective
• noncontradictory
  adjective
• uncontradictory
  adjective
• contradictorily
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• contradictories
  plural

Etymology

Origin of contradictory

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin contrādictōrius; equivalent to contradict + -ory ¹

Explanation

A contradictory statement is one that says two things that cannot both be true. An example: My sister is jealous of me because I'm an only child. Contradictory is related to the verb contradict, which means to say or do the opposite, and contrary, which means to take an opposite view. When witnesses give contradictory accounts of crimes—one saying the assailant had a knife and the other a gun—police officers often assume that at least one of the witnesses is lying.

Example Sentences

A lot had contradictory answers, saying: “If we leave, there won’t be anyone left. Nevertheless, I’m leaving.”

From Slate • Jun. 17, 2026

The CIA, legendary for its grueling vetting of potential employees, missed the fact that Rush had given the agency contradictory accounts of what graduate degrees he had achieved, according to court papers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026

Singer Sae Sar -- who performs under a stage name -- said such stresses fuel the appetite for nightlife even as they restrain it, giving Yangon's social scene its contradictory quality.

From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026

Political experts argue that messages that seem contradictory to a candidate’s background, as well as drowning voters with incessant ads, can be jarring and off-putting to the electorate.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

Simultaneous and contradictory information declared him victorious in Villanueva, defeated in Guacamayal, devoured by Motilón Indians, dead in a village in the swamp, and up in arms again in Urumita.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Related Words

• antithetical
• conflicting
• contrary
• incompatible
• inconsistent
• paradoxical