counterintuitive

adjective

coun·​ter·​in·​tu·​i·​tive ˌkau̇n-tər-in-ˈtü-ə-tiv How to pronounce counterintuitive (audio)
-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 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 The third and final reason is a bit more tricky and seems slightly counterintuitive. Alena Botros, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2024 That might seem counterintuitive for a player at the most physically demanding position in the sport. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2024 Rau tells us that this counterintuitive pattern is even more pronounced in some European countries. Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2024 Breaking a window is counterintuitive as this would make mom and dad mad, but if a child can’t reach the locking mechanism or can’t open a window, this accomplishes the same thing. Letter Writers, Twin Cities, 18 Jan. 2024 Acknowledging that this finding might seem counterintuitive, Yale pointed to the diversity of high schools attended by its applicants as an explanation. Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 The classic teenage rebellion and the desire to get free — which is counterintuitive — was mind-blowing for me. Matthew Jacobs, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2024 Anxious workers concerned that generative AI and sophisticated robots will one day endanger their job of choice should watch for a counterintuitive sign: rising wages. Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 12 Feb. 2024 That is where children had to learn such counterintuitive ideas as taking turns talking, listening to others with minds open to the possibility that others — even their own relatives — could be saying something worth hearing, and, if necessary, disagreeing without being disagreeable. Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'counterintuitive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of counterintuitive was in 1955

Dictionary Entries Near counterintuitive

Cite this Entry

“Counterintuitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterintuitive. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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