contradictory

[kon-truh-dik-tuh-ree]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR contradictory ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

asserting the contrary or opposite; contradicting; inconsistent; logically opposite: contradictory statements.

tending or inclined to contradict.

noun, plural con·tra·dic·to·ries.

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

Origin of contradictory

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin contrādictōrius, equivalent to contrādic(ere) (see contradict) + -tōrius -tory¹

Related formscon·tra·dic·to·ri·ly, adverbcon·tra·dic·to·ri·ness, nounin·ter·con·tra·dic·to·ry, adjectivenon·con·tra·dic·to·ry, adjective, noun, plural non·con·tra·dic·to·ries.un·con·tra·dic·to·ry, adjective

Synonyms for contradictory

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR contradictory ON THESAURUS.COM

1. irreconcilable, paradoxical.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for contradictorily

separately, individually, variously, negatively, adversely, unusually, abnormally, antagonistically, antithetically, asymmetrically, conflictingly, contradictorily, contrarily, contrastingly, contrastively, discordantly, disparately, distinctively, divergently, diversely

Examples from the Web for contradictorily

Historical Examples of contradictorily

Her clothes conceal and reveal, artfully and contradictorily and endlessly.
I, Mary MacLane
Mary MacLane
But motion at one time, and rest at another time, are not contradictorily opposed to each other.
The Critique of Pure Reason
Immanuel Kant
This principle is that, of every two contradictorily opposed predicates, only one can belong to a conception.
The Critique of Pure Reason
Immanuel Kant
And deep in her repentant heart she was contradictorily glad that Evelina and the baby were safe together down in the Cove.
His "Day In Court"
Charles Egbert Craddock (AKA Mary Noailles Murfree)
But many of the details are vaguely and contradictorily stated.
Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Volume 20, September, 1877.
Various

British Dictionary definitions for contradictorily

contradictory

adjective

inconsistent; incompatible

given to argument and contentiona contradictory person

logic (of a pair of statements) unable both to be true or both to be false under the same circumstancesCompare contrary (def. 5), subcontrary (def. 1)

noun plural -ries

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

Derived Formscontradictorily, adverbcontradictoriness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for contradictorily

contradictory

adj.

1530s, "mutually opposed, at variance," from Late Latin contradictorius "containing a contradiction or objection," from contradictus, past participle of contradicere (see contradiction). Meaning "fond of contradicting" is from 1891. Used earlier as a noun (late 14c.).