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

Though its presence on landscape televisions seems counterintuitive, Shorts has been a runaway hit in the living room, with viewers watching more than 2 billion hours of its programming on TVs each month. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026

These early proponents of quantum biology sought explanations for the puzzling properties of life at the classical scale in the counterintuitive laws of physics at the quantum scale. — Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 23 Sep. 2026

Twenty-five hundred years ago, the Greek philosopher Zeno set about making the case for the counterintuitive claim that all motion is an illusion. — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

The selection of Indianapolis for this particular matchup comes across as counterintuitive. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 20 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for counterintuitive

• intuitive