contradictory

1 of 2

adjective

con·​tra·​dic·​to·​ry ˌkän-trə-ˈdik-t(ə-)rē 

: involving, causing, or constituting a contradiction

contradictory statements

The witnesses gave contradictory accounts of the accident.

contradictorily

ˌkän-trə-ˈdik-t(ə-)rə-lē 

adverb

contradictoriness

ˌkän-trə-ˈdik-t(ə-)rē-nəs 

noun

contradictoriness

2 of 2

noun

con·​tra·​dic·​to·​ri·​ness ¦kän-trə-¦dik-t(ə-)rē-nəs 

plural -es

: the quality or state of being contradictory

Synonyms of contradictory

Adjective

• opposite
• contrary

Choose the Right Synonym for contradictory

opposite, contradictory, contrary, antithetical mean being so far apart as to be or seem irreconcilable.

opposite applies to things in sharp contrast or in conflict.

opposite views on foreign aid

contradictory applies to two things that completely negate each other so that if one is true or valid the other must be untrue or invalid.

made contradictory predictions about whether the market would rise or fall

contrary implies extreme divergence or diametrical opposition.

contrary assessments of the war situation

antithetical stresses clear and unequivocal diametrical opposition.

a law that is antithetical to the very idea of democracy

Examples of contradictory in a Sentence

Adjective

contradictory predictions regarding stock prices that were of no help to investors at all

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

For me, writing means trying to get close enough to each character to feel their heart beating, which challenges the first level, because human beings are much more complex and contradictory than sociological simplifications. —Nina Mesfin, New Yorker, 7 June 2026

Set on a limestone bluff overlooking the Austin skyline, the Terrace Mountain Residence by A Parallel Architecture achieves that contradictory feat. —Fred Albert, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026

The entire, chaotic saga—a wishy-washy White House, confused statements from populist and tech-elite Trump whisperers—is only the latest in a long string of strange, often contradictory AI-policy positions. —Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026

Those goals are not contradictory. —Susana A. Mendoza, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French contraditoire, contradictoire, borrowed from Late Latin contrādictōrius, from Latin contrādic-, variant stem of contrādīcere "to speak against, object to" + -tōrius, deverbal adjective suffix originally forming derivatives from agent nouns ending in -tōr-, -tor — more at contradict

First Known Use

Adjective

1656, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing contradictory

• self-contradictory

Rhymes for contradictory

• valedictory
• victory

Kids Definition

contradictory

adjective

con·​tra·​dic·​to·​ry

ˌkän-trə-ˈdik-t(ə-)rē

: involving, causing, or being a contradiction

contradictory statements

contradictoriness

-t(ə-)rē-nəs

noun