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 contradictory

conflicting, antithetical, incompatible, contrary, inconsistent, paradoxical, counter, reverse, opposite, converse, antipodal, con, anti, adverse, against, counteractive, diametric, discrepant, incongruous, irreconcilable

Examples from the Web for contradictory

Contemporary Examples of contradictory

America presents two contradictory narratives that it struggles to reconcile.
Will Texas Stay Texan?
David Fontana
December 29, 2014
My optimism springs from the contradictory statements of the conservative justices of the court.
The Supreme Court Is Weighing Corporate Power Yet Again
Zephyr Teachout
October 17, 2014
The upshot of these contradictory findings is that most people have trouble believing the figures produced by either side.
Scots Must Choose Heart or Head
Nico Hines
September 18, 2014
News sources are contradictory and no effective municipal governance exists to provide people with the information they need.
Ukraine’s Pro-Putin Rebels Prepare for a Last Stand
David Patrikarakos
July 10, 2014
For weeks the information coming out of Kuala Lumpur was, at best, inconsistent and contradictory and, at worst, tainted.
Who Gagged the Search for MH370?
Clive Irving
June 22, 2014

Historical Examples of contradictory

She stated the fact as one without a hint of any contradictory possibility.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
The Cherub waited for an explanation of these contradictory remarks.
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser
Contradictory rumours were abroad on the subject of his hair.
Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit
Charles Dickens
The answers to this question were various and contradictory.
A Tale of Two Cities
Charles Dickens
The most contradictory rumors are in circulation about Stanton.
Diary from November 12, 1862, to October 18, 1863
Adam Gurowski

British Dictionary definitions for contradictory

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 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.).