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

• contradictories
  plural

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• contradictories
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

contradictory contradictories

The minutes of the July meeting show that he may have got what he wanted, with a wide variety of sometimes contradictory views recorded.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

With nutrition trends constantly changing and dietary advice sometimes appearing contradictory, Anderson offers a simple message: "Keep it simple, eat a variety of foods and not too much of anything."

From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026

These contradictory impressions persist in the new production of “Waiting in the Wings,” running in repertory at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum through Oct.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

“The traditional models of diplomacy have resulted in duplicative or even contradictory foreign policy actions,” Kelly said in an email.

From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026

One of the problems, ironically, was that there were too many observations, which when brought together often proved contradictory and impossible to resolve.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

The two principles are merged in one, and the contradiction solved by an assertion of the identity of the contradictories.

From Monophysitism Past and Present A Study in Christology by A. A. (Arthur Aston) Luce

On another construction of it, one which sought to escape the dilemma of the contradictories by confining them to matters of the understanding, Hegel and Schelling believed they had gained the open field.

From The Religious Sentiment Its Source and Aim: A Contribution to the Science and Philosophy of Religion by Daniel Garrison Brinton

I think the truth is that these two contradictories lie side by side in Parmenides unreconciled, and still mutually contradicting each other.

From A Critical History of Greek Philosophy by W. T. (Walter Terence) Stace

The principle of the contradictoriness of identity and the identity of contradictories is the essence of the hegelian system.

From The Will to Believe : and Other Essays in Popular Philosophy by William James

It may be that the Bradleyan Absolute can admit contradictories as equally true, but such mental acrobatics do not come naturally to human thinking.

From The Unpopular Review, Number 19 July-December 1918 by Various

Related Words

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