counterintuitive

[ koun-ter-in-too-i-tiv, -tyoo- ]

/ ˌkaʊn tər ɪnˈtu ɪ tɪv, -ˈtyu- /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for counterintuitive on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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.

QUIZ

FIRE UP YOUR VOCAB FOR A "RED" SYNONYMS QUIZ

No fire engine reds here, only a fierce collection of vibrant words for the color red to test yourself on.

Question 1 of 7

What does "amaranth" mean?

a legendary stone of impenetrable hardness

an imaginary, undying flower

a mythical creature

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Origin of counterintuitive

First recorded in 1960–65; counter- + intuitive

Words nearby counterintuitive

counterimmunoelectrophoresis, counterincision, counterinsurgency, counterintelligence, counterintuition, counterintuitive, counter-ion, counterirritant, counterirritation, counterjumper, counterlight

How to use counterintuitive in a sentence

This counterintuitive result is perhaps explained by the fact that quarterbacks often hold the ball longer when their receivers are covered, or when the defense is giving them a look that they’re not used to seeing.
Kansas City’s Banged Up O-Line Has Given Patrick Mahomes Plenty Of Time — Not That He Needs It|Josh Hermsmeyer|February 5, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
Prioritize time for restorative and protective careIt may sound counterintuitive to recommend carving out time for something other than work when you are totally behind on work, but this time matters.
Why working moms deserve a tantrum (and how to survive the remainder of the pandemic)|Christine Koh|February 1, 2021|Washington Post
The study of the human immune system and how vaccines influence it is complex and sometimes counterintuitive, and the deployment of a new method for immunization based on mRNA has made it all the more confusing.
How does an mRNA vaccine work?|Maddie Bender|January 19, 2021|Popular-Science
Such counterintuitive behavior can be harnessed to allow new types of communication.
Drones could help create a quantum internet|Emily Conover|January 14, 2021|Science News

That someone who has built her brand on the concept of decluttering your life and your home would then sell you more things strikes some as counterintuitive.
Marie Kondo is back with a new collaboration to keep you organized while staying at home|Rachel King|January 11, 2021|Fortune
But his solution to this metastasizing threat is, in some ways, counterintuitive.
ISIS Fight Has a Spy Shortage, Intel Chair Says|Kimberly Dozier|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Freed from her guitar, but wearing counterintuitive pumps, she leaned back like a trapeze artist.
Is Bigger Better for St. Vincent?|David Yaffe|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That such a victory would be seen as a surprise would have seemed counterintuitive not so long ago.
Kansas Republicans Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback Lifted by Rising Tide|Ben Jacobs|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was a delightful, counterintuitive concept, perfectly suited to the philosophy, attitude, and technology of the Internet.
You Can Look It Up: The Wikipedia Story|Walter Isaacson|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The fact that atheists are apparently as moral as believers will be counterintuitive to some.
It’s Official: Religion Doesn’t Make You More Moral|Elizabeth Picciuto|September 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for counterintuitive

counterintuitive

/ (ˌkaʊntərɪnˈtjuːɪtɪv) /

adjective

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

intelligence collected about enemy espionage

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

counterintuitive

Origin of counterintuitive

Words nearby counterintuitive

Words related to counterintuitive

How to use counterintuitive in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for counterintuitive