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

plural

contradictories

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

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

Etymology

Origin of contradictory

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

Example Sentences

That story and all the thematic clones emerging in its wake center contradictory thought as heroic and easily imperiled because it muddies a convenient, consolidated prescription of how the world should work.

From Salon

The Cambodian government has had at times contradictory responses to accusations that their country is becoming a base for transnational cyberscams and human trafficking.

From The Wall Street Journal

This, of course, is contradictory to the notion that Japan will have difficulty financing its own debt.

From The Wall Street Journal

That investigation found officers told the teenager there was "overwhelming and contradictory evidence" against him.

From BBC

Policies and protocols on alerts, it said, were “unclear” and “contradictory” and did not explicitly outline the chain of command for decisions to issue evacuation warning or orders.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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