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 Bell
Examples of counterintuitive in a Sentence
It may seem counterintuitive, but we do burn calories when we are sleeping.
Recent Examples on the Web
Our research offers a perhaps counterintuitive solution to disagreements about moderation: Platforms should give up on trying to prevent the spread of information that is simply false, and focus instead on preventing the spread of information that can be used to cause harm.
—Scott Duke Kominers, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2024
Throughout the case, the plaintiffs have criticized Arizona's private prison health care model and its for-profit incentive as counterintuitive to improving treatment.
—Miguel Torres, The Arizona Republic, 15 Mar. 2024
Increasingly, Americans are seeking authentic human contact, and one counterintuitive way the country music industry can provide that real experience is with an assist from artificial intelligence.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2024
The final shape of many of these changes will possibly be counterintuitive from our current point of view.
—David Einstein, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
For many on the left, this promise, made by a Democrat campaigning to run one of the country’s most liberal cities, was counterintuitive.
—Frederick Kaufman, Harper's Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024
And whereas most painters favor white gesso to prepare a canvas, Mckinney chooses an almost counterintuitive layer of black.
—M.h. Miller, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2024
From the perspective of trust, the endemic of bad customer service is counterintuitive.
—Eamon Barrett, Fortune, 2 Feb. 2024
The kings of counterintuitive basketball struck again, playing rope-a-dope for the opening 13 minutes of the Mountain West semifinals Friday night at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center before roaring past top-seeded and 18th-ranked Utah State 86-70 in another vintage March performance.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2024
Scott Duke Kominers, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2024
Throughout the case, the plaintiffs have criticized Arizona's private prison health care model and its for-profit incentive as counterintuitive to improving treatment.
—Miguel Torres, The Arizona Republic, 15 Mar. 2024
Increasingly, Americans are seeking authentic human contact, and one counterintuitive way the country music industry can provide that real experience is with an assist from artificial intelligence.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2024
The final shape of many of these changes will possibly be counterintuitive from our current point of view.
—David Einstein, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
For many on the left, this promise, made by a Democrat campaigning to run one of the country’s most liberal cities, was counterintuitive.
—Frederick Kaufman, Harper's Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024
And whereas most painters favor white gesso to prepare a canvas, Mckinney chooses an almost counterintuitive layer of black.
—M.h. Miller, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2024
From the perspective of trust, the endemic of bad customer service is counterintuitive.
—Eamon Barrett, Fortune, 2 Feb. 2024
The kings of counterintuitive basketball struck again, playing rope-a-dope for the opening 13 minutes of the Mountain West semifinals Friday night at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center before roaring past top-seeded and 18th-ranked Utah State 86-70 in another vintage March performance.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 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
Dictionary Entries Near counterintuitive
Cite this Entry
“Counterintuitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterintuitive. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
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