contradictory
Americanadjective
-
asserting the contrary or opposite; contradicting; inconsistent; logically opposite.
contradictory statements.
- Synonyms:
- paradoxical, irreconcilable
-
tending or inclined to contradict.
noun
adjective
-
inconsistent; incompatible
-
given to argument and contention
a contradictory person
-
logic (of a pair of statements) unable both to be true or both to be false under the same circumstances Compare contrary subcontrary
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
contradictorinessnoun
-
intercontradictoryadjective
-
noncontradictoryadjective
-
uncontradictoryadjective
-
contradictorilyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of contradictory
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin contrādictōrius; equivalent to contradict + -ory 1
Explanation
A contradictory statement is one that says two things that cannot both be true. An example: My sister is jealous of me because I'm an only child. Contradictory is related to the verb contradict, which means to say or do the opposite, and contrary, which means to take an opposite view. When witnesses give contradictory accounts of crimes—one saying the assailant had a knife and the other a gun—police officers often assume that at least one of the witnesses is lying.
Vocabulary lists containing contradictory
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 2
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Opposites Attract
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This Juneteenth, we should try to confront and reclaim this holiday’s contradictory history, in all its facets.
From Salon • Jun. 19, 2026
However, the court of appeal in Belgrade ordered a retrial for the boy's parents in November 2025, ruling that the reasons behind the verdicts were unclear and contradictory.
From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026
A lot had contradictory answers, saying: “If we leave, there won’t be anyone left. Nevertheless, I’m leaving.”
From Slate • Jun. 17, 2026
That pattern has continued to play out, with the Revolutionary Guard and more moderate figures in Iran sometimes issuing contradictory messages.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026
His contemporaries are divided on the question, and his own notes are contradictory.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
