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

The composite picture is contradictory, reflecting the complexities of a family living the American dream but still tied to the customs of their people and their faith.

From The Wall Street Journal

Doublethink is a core theme in George Orwell’s “1984”—believing two contradictory ideas at the same time.

From Barron's

She called the message from the T-shirt photo "contradictory", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

From BBC

But Eddie puts them into a very organized file on her computer called a spreadsheet, highlighting pieces of the interviews that are contradictory.

From Literature

Include your purchase order, delivery date, details of the technician’s visit and a written account of the contradictory warranty claims.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

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