definitions
  • synonyms

contradictory

[ kon-truh-dik-tuh-ree ]
/ ˌkɒn trəˈdɪk tə ri /
||
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.

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RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

contradict, contradiction, contradiction in terms, contradictious, contradictive, contradictory, contradistinction, contradistinguish, contrafactual, contrafissura, contraflow

Origin of contradictory

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin contrādictōrius, equivalent to contrādic(ere) (see contradict) + -tōrius -tory1
SYNONYMS FOR contradictory
1 irreconcilable, paradoxical.
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR contradictory ON THESAURUS.COM
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for contradictory

British Dictionary definitions for contradictory

contradictory

/ (ˌkɒntrəˈdɪktərɪ) /

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

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.).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper