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
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.
Discussing the future with junior employees might be counterintuitive, but Gen Z has been proven to be pragmatic. Lieke Ten Brummelhuis, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025 To that end, the behind-the-scenes clips that Perry offers of his Pavement musical are the most delightful in the movie, just for the counterintuitive thrill of watching theater kids sing and dance through a catalog that would seem to defy their essential earnestness. Scott Tobias, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025 This may feel counterintuitive, but staying in the middle of the lane can cause additional accidents, especially in high-traffic areas. Sponsored Content, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2025 The experimental design was counterintuitive, Zeilinger observed. Quanta Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for counterintuitive

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of counterintuitive was in 1955

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Cite this Entry

“Counterintuitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterintuitive. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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