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
Cognitive dissonance seemingly provided a tidy account of a wide variety of counterintuitive behavior.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
To those who aren’t themselves slogging through the dating apps, the fact that more potential partners makes things harder might seem counterintuitive.
—Judd B. Kessler, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2025
When temperatures drop, lowering your thermostat may seem counterintuitive.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2025
McCarthy's struggles have also opened conversations about drafting another quarterback in the first round, but that would run counterintuitive to the patient approach the organization has taken with McCarthy, who is 22 years old, so far.
—Trevor Squire, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterintuitive
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Shayla Love, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
To those who aren’t themselves slogging through the dating apps, the fact that more potential partners makes things harder might seem counterintuitive.
—Judd B. Kessler, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2025
When temperatures drop, lowering your thermostat may seem counterintuitive.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2025
McCarthy's struggles have also opened conversations about drafting another quarterback in the first round, but that would run counterintuitive to the patient approach the organization has taken with McCarthy, who is 22 years old, so far.
—Trevor Squire, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 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 20 Dec. 2025.
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