counterintuitive
Americanadjective
adjective
-
(of an idea, proposal, etc) seemingly contrary to common sense
-
intelligence collected about enemy espionage
Etymology
Origin of counterintuitive
Explanation
If something is counterintuitive it means it's the opposite of "intuitive" — in other words it's not easily understood in an instinctive, unconscious way. A red light for "go" and a green light for "stop" would be highly counterintuitive, for example. A classic example of the intuitive/counterintuitive divide can be found in computers: today they're so easy to use a toddler can handle them; early ones were so counterintuitive they remained a head-scratching mystery to all but a few techies. Writing tip: note that counterintuitive is one of those words that used to be commonly hyphenated (like "nonetheless" and "secondhand") but is now generally spelled as a single word.
Vocabulary lists containing counterintuitive
Against All Odds: Contra and Counter
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Vocabulary from the Introduction to "Reality is Broken" by Jane McGonigal
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"Marita's Bargain," Vocabulary from the essay
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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.
There was real appeal to the sort of revisionist, counterintuitive argument that the administration was making or specifically that Thomas was making.
From Slate ● Aug. 31, 2026
As tai chi doesn’t push extremes, it may feel counterintuitive in Western culture; but that’s part of its power, Swanson says, likening tai chi to water.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
The novel move was so unconventional and counterintuitive that nobody could be sure what to make of it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026
Speaking at a Downing Street reception, Sir Keir said: "We had to battle with the FA to get it back to where it was, which was counterintuitive."
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
This may seem counterintuitive, but remember, you are basically compensating for the transposition that is "built into" the instrument.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
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.
