counterintuitive

adjective

coun·​ter·​in·​tu·​i·​tive ˌkau̇n-tər-in-ˈtü-ə-tiv 

-ˈtyü-

: contrary to what one would intuitively expect

As counterintuitive as it may seem, the universe has no center, and it has no boundary.

—Jim Bell

counterintuitively

ˌkau̇n-tər-in-ˈtü-ə-tiv-lē 

-ˈtyü-

adverb

Examples of counterintuitive in a Sentence

It may seem counterintuitive, but we do burn calories when we are sleeping.

Recent Examples on the Web

Maybe this explains why Effective Altruism—the idea that generosity should be subjected to evidence and calculation—seemed counterintuitive. — David Miliband, Time, 19 Oct. 2026

That may sound counterintuitive, given that Chinese open-source models have won plaudits worldwide for their low costs—and that China has cheap power. — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026

That global warming is diminishing them might sounds counterintuitive — climate change, after all, is worsening much of the world’s extreme weather. — Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

The idea that the Middle East is becoming more liberal may sound counterintuitive. — Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for counterintuitive

• intuitive