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
As Farhadi notes, from a physiological perspective, the fact that exercise can be so good for bowel movements might seem counterintuitive.
—Julia Sullivan, Outside, 26 Mar. 2026
So, the idea of lenders accepting less than they're owed may seem counterintuitive.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
Some of the posters are more counterintuitive.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
Related Stories However much withholding an album from streaming might seem counterintuitive in 2026, that actually served to draw attention to the project.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026
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Julia Sullivan, Outside, 26 Mar. 2026
So, the idea of lenders accepting less than they're owed may seem counterintuitive.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
Some of the posters are more counterintuitive.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
Related Stories However much withholding an album from streaming might seem counterintuitive in 2026, that actually served to draw attention to the project.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterintuitive
Cite this Entry
“Counterintuitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterintuitive. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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