contradict
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to assert the contrary or opposite of; deny directly and categorically.
- Synonyms:
- dispute, controvert, impugn, gainsay
- Antonyms:
- support
-
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)
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
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”
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.
This assertion is contradicted by studies linking lifetime Social Security taxes with lifetime benefits.
From Los Angeles Times
He said “the actual evidence was dismissed or ignored” by most reporting, including “mountains” of “emails, text messages and video evidence that flatly contradict” the claims.
From Los Angeles Times
The emails contradict statements Lutnick made in October about vowing in 2005 to "never be in a room" with Epstein again.
From BBC
That assessment contradicts accounts from workers interviewed by the Journal and accounts cited by human-rights groups.
Ives’ business activities seem to have Wedbush’s approval, though they are highly unusual for an analyst and seem to contradict Finra rules, experts note.
From Barron's
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.
