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
Gardner highlighted it as a classic example of the counterintuitive nature of problems in probability and statistics.
—Emma R. Hasson, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2025
Quantum refers to the scale of atoms and molecules, which behave in counterintuitive ways.
—Yashas Hariprasad, The Conversation, 1 Aug. 2025
This is particularly counterintuitive given that the nation’s top three trade partners largely rely on border crossings (Canada, Mexico) and seaports (China) and account for more than one-third of all U.S. trade.
—Ken Roberts, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
The findings, though counterintuitive, align with a new theory about our metabolisms, first proposed by Pontzer.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 July 2025
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Emma R. Hasson, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2025
Quantum refers to the scale of atoms and molecules, which behave in counterintuitive ways.
—Yashas Hariprasad, The Conversation, 1 Aug. 2025
This is particularly counterintuitive given that the nation’s top three trade partners largely rely on border crossings (Canada, Mexico) and seaports (China) and account for more than one-third of all U.S. trade.
—Ken Roberts, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
The findings, though counterintuitive, align with a new theory about our metabolisms, first proposed by Pontzer.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterintuitive
Cite this Entry
“Counterintuitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterintuitive. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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