contradict

verb

con·​tra·​dict ˌkän-trə-ˈdikt How to pronounce contradict (audio)
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 adjective
contradictor noun
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has responded to the American Academy of Pediatrics' decision to release its own vaccine recommendations that contradict federal guidance. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2025 No one at the Department of Motor Vehicles contradicted him. Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2025 Some anecdotes spiral forward—a ransom scheme emerges, bit by bit—but others contradict or undercut one another, while still more seem to exist purely as motifs. Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025 However, Trump’s declaration of a crime emergency in the district was contradicted by data showing violent crime had decreased there in recent years. Jade Walker 9 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for contradict

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of contradict was in 1582

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contradict.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contradict. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

contradict

verb
con·​tra·​dict ˌkän-trə-ˈdikt How to pronounce contradict (audio)
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 noun

More from Merriam-Webster on contradict

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!