contradict

verb

con·​tra·​dict ˌkän-trə-ˈdikt 

contradicted; contradicting; contradicts

transitive verb

1

: to assert the contrary of : take issue with

contradict a rumor

She contradicted her brother's account of what happened.

2

: to imply the opposite or a denial of

Your actions contradict your words.

The evidence contradicts his testimony.

contradictable

ˌkän-trə-ˈdik-tə-bəl 

adjective

contradictor

ˌkän-trə-ˈdik-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• refute
• disagree (with)

Choose the Right Synonym for contradict

deny, gainsay, contradict, contravene mean to refuse to accept as true or valid.

deny implies a firm refusal to accept as true, to grant or concede, or to acknowledge the existence or claims of.

denied the charges

gainsay implies disputing the truth of what another has said.

no one can gainsay her claims

contradict implies an open or flat denial.

her account contradicts his

contravene implies not so much an intentional opposition as some inherent incompatibility.

laws that contravene tradition

Examples of contradict in a Sentence

He contradicted the charges of his critics.

My sister doesn't like being contradicted.

The mayor's actions in office contradicted the promises he made during the campaign.

Recent Examples on the Web

Once there, Glick quickly gathered information that contradicted claims the authorities had made in ruling out foul play. —Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025

But back into the office doesn't contradict hybrid. —Ayesha Javed, Time, 12 Oct. 2025

The assessment contradicts Western conventional wisdom that Moscow has approached the conflict more as a meat grinder than with strategic nous. —Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025

An internal investigation at the agency later found Jacobs violated its scientific integrity policy in releasing a statement that contradicted the National Weather Service. —Jared Gans, The Hill, 8 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin contrādictus, past participle of contrādīcere, contrā dīcere "to speak against, object to, oppose, assert the contrary," from contrā contra- + dīcere "to talk, speak, say" — more at diction

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing contradict

• contradict oneself

Rhymes for contradict

• derelict
• interdict
• addict
• afflict
• constrict
• delict
• depict
• evict
• handpicked
• inflict
• predict
• relict

Kids Definition

contradict

verb

con·​tra·​dict ˌkän-trə-ˈdikt 

1

: to say the opposite of what someone else has said : deny the truth of

2

: to be opposed or contrary to : go against

your actions contradict your words

contradictor

-ˈdik-tər 

noun