contradictory

[ kon-truh-dik-tuh-ree ]

adjective

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

   contradictory statements.

   Synonyms: paradoxical, irreconcilable

2. tending or inclined to contradict.

noun

, plural con·tra·dic·to·ries.

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

contradictory

/ ˌkɒntrəˈdɪktərɪ /

adjective

1. inconsistent; incompatible
2. given to argument and contention

   a contradictory person

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

noun

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

Derived Forms

• ˌcontraˈdictoriness, noun
• ˌcontraˈdictorily, adverb

Other Words From

• contra·dicto·ri·ly adverb
• contra·dicto·ri·ness noun
• inter·contra·dicto·ry adjective
• noncon·tra·dicto·ry adjective noun plural noncontradictories
• uncon·tra·dicto·ry adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of contradictory¹

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

Example Sentences

The challenge with that is it’s completely contradictory to the agency model, which has been built around people, so there’s been a reluctance to build out AI and machine learning.

From Digiday

As I was reading On Inhumanity, I was wondering how much Smith’s commitment to contradictory beliefs matters.

From Nautilus

On this approach to belief, contradictory belief is impossible.

From Nautilus

On Conflicting Beliefs and Seeing People as MonstersAccording to Smith, the typical advocate of dehumanizing rhetoric has two contradictory beliefs.

From Nautilus

Data on how much infectious virus is present in the noses of asymptomatic people are contradictory, Kilpatrick says.

From Science News

America presents two contradictory narratives that it struggles to reconcile.

From The Daily Beast

My optimism springs from the contradictory statements of the conservative justices of the court.

From The Daily Beast

His teammates go further, doubting whether anybody fathoms the consistently contradictory Palmer--least of all Palmer.

From The Daily Beast

Consolmango writes that the Bible actually contains several contradictory Creation theories.

From The Daily Beast

The upshot of these contradictory findings is that most people have trouble believing the figures produced by either side.

From The Daily Beast

By men the laws of a nation may be altered without being made contradictory to one another, or to oppose the law of God.

From Project Gutenberg

He was preserved from the fantastic by another gift which seems contradictory to the first.

From Project Gutenberg

A word on the contradictory education which we bestow upon our daughters.

From Project Gutenberg

But how are we to reconcile improbable facts related in a contradictory manner?

From Project Gutenberg

How, said they, could they assist by their presence at public prayers which were utterly contradictory to their private ones?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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