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
The simple advice may seem counterintuitive in an age when young workers are being coached to build personal brands from day one and contribute constantly.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2026
The formation of a group called MEHA — Make Europe Healthy Again — may initially seem counterintuitive.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Mar. 2026
However, with Colorado temperatures struggling to dip and stay below freezing, creating the snow is often counterintuitive.
—Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
Although the underlying mechanisms may differ from tissue to tissue, and from organism to organism, the apparent ubiquity of these processes suggests that fracturing is a useful, if counterintuitive, way to sculpt tissues and their vital features.
—Clare Watson, Quanta Magazine, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterintuitive
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.
Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2026
The formation of a group called MEHA — Make Europe Healthy Again — may initially seem counterintuitive.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Mar. 2026
However, with Colorado temperatures struggling to dip and stay below freezing, creating the snow is often counterintuitive.
—Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
Although the underlying mechanisms may differ from tissue to tissue, and from organism to organism, the apparent ubiquity of these processes suggests that fracturing is a useful, if counterintuitive, way to sculpt tissues and their vital features.
—Clare Watson, Quanta Magazine, 27 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 9 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
