contradiction

1 someone or something with qualities or features that seem to conflict with one another <a loving father as well as a ruthless killer, the gangster is a living contradiction> Synonyms dichotomy, incongruity, paradox Related Words antinomy; conundrum, enigma, mystery, mystification, puzzle, puzzlement, riddle

2 a refusal to confirm the truth of a statement <the actress's contradiction of the marriage rumor caused quite a stir> Synonyms denial, denegation, disallowance, disavowal, disclaimer, disconfirmation, negation, rejection, repudiationRelated Words disproof, rebuttal, refutation; negativeNear Antonyms concession, confession; affirmation, assertion, declaration; attestation, corroboration, documentation, substantiation, testament, testimony, validationAntonyms acknowledgment (or acknowledgement), admission, avowal, confirmation