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
Jim BellExamples of counterintuitive in a Sentence
It may seem counterintuitive, but we do burn calories when we are sleeping.
Recent Examples on the Web
Excessive pre-rinsing can cause white marks on glass This first piece of advice will feel counterintuitive, but just go with us here.
—Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
This seemed not only counterintuitive but bananas.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Research has suggested that counterintuitive cooling in that area could be induced by aerosols, changes in land use or the water cycle, which may have intensified in certain places as a response to greenhouse gas emissions, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
The system was often counterintuitive.
—Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterintuitive
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Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
This seemed not only counterintuitive but bananas.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Research has suggested that counterintuitive cooling in that area could be induced by aerosols, changes in land use or the water cycle, which may have intensified in certain places as a response to greenhouse gas emissions, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
The system was often counterintuitive.
—Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterintuitive
Cite this Entry
“Counterintuitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterintuitive. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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