counterintuitive

American  

[koun-ter-in-too-i-tiv, -tyoo-] / ˌkaʊn tər ɪnˈtu ɪ tɪv, -ˈtyu- /

adjective

1. counter to what intuition would lead one to expect.

   The direction we had to follow was counterintuitive—we had to go north first before we went south.

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counterintuitive British  

/ ˌkaʊntərɪnˈtjuːɪtɪv /

adjective

1. (of an idea, proposal, etc) seemingly contrary to common sense

2. intelligence collected about enemy espionage

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Etymology

Origin of counterintuitive

First recorded in 1960–65; counter- + intuitive

Example Sentences

The violence feels counterintuitive to human nature — and specifically the nature of Minnesotans.

From Salon

“At a certain point, it just feels completely counterintuitive,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

It was a counterintuitive choice, turning the guy who led the country in touchdown passes into a rusher whose gangly 6-foot-5 frame sometimes made it look like he was sprinting on a frozen lake.

From The Wall Street Journal

This phenomenon arises from a counterintuitive property of gravity, where systems bound by gravity become hotter as they lose energy rather than cooling down.

From Science Daily

To question if he’s an all-time great isn’t just counterintuitive.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• unreasonable